Hess rolling in the money, Guyana rolling in more foolishness

Jun 03, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

Hard Truths by GHK Lall

(Kaieteur News) – Yet again, a word of thanks is due to Chartered Accountant Chris Ram for his heavy lifting on behalf of Guyanese. The man should get a medal. And some U.S. millions. And some senior ministers wuk. About 10 of them, seeing he is doing more work than all of them put together. To stretch things, I think he does more than the entire cabinet. Let’s do a little checking of his work products. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd 2025 financials. NIS. Silica City. Oil columns. Constitution. Access to Information. And still more. Pres. Ali should do the decent thing. Resign. Rewrite his doctoral dissertation. Go alone. Go quietly into the night. Make space for Mr. Ram, who does real work in this burg. Not salesman work. Not con jobs. Not Exxon work. Mr. Chris Ram does real work for Guyana.

While Mr. Ram is hard at work, Mr. Ali is working harder on his speeches, usually his newest fable. Take investors. There’s the well-named Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd (Hess). Hess explored so well that it left Guyana holding the baking pan, while it walked away with the fruitcake topped with chocolate. Hess was/is a 30 percent partner in Guyana’s Grimm fairytale oilfields. There is truth in those fields: real gold. How does a 30 percent partner haul in more millions than the host country, Guyana, the owner of those same fabulous oilfields? This must be Dr. Ali’s new math formula arranged inside his sanctity of contract fortress. Hess grabs close to US$3 billion in 2025, Guyana is glad to get US$2.5 billion and Ali boasts about that before the world. Running around the world and inviting investors to Guyana to repeat Hess’s exploits. More for them, less for Guyana. See, why Pres. Ali should call it a day and go his way? To be crystal: resign. Get a load of Oil Guyana under Irfaan ‘I’m the Greatest’ Ali: the workers are making more than the owners of the oilfields. I recognize that as upside-down mathematics, which has nothing to do with trickledown economics. In passing, I have a recommendation for Excellency Ali. When he resigns, he has a new career waiting for him: humorist. A man with a PhD can only be a humorist; he has had some practice. One less credentialed would be a regular joker.

Now try some world-class accounting. Christopher Ram’s body of accounting, not Mr. Alistair Routledge’s ‘world-class accounting systems’ specially invented by Exxon for Guyana. At the end of 2025, Hess had recaptured all the money it invested in Guyana. Every nickel, every dime (maybe even some extra US millions lazing around). So, why is Guyana still being associated with 12.5 percent of this and 2 percent of that, and cost bank, notwithstanding Mr. Routledge’s declarations? If Pres. Ali is still making speeches, he should stop that and get going. There’s a door opened for him to pass through. In deference to the presidency, I insert respectfully. What’s the use of Guyana’s politicians in this new age of oil? Heard that it’s to fool the people and to fool around with elections.

Meanwhile, the oil drains away. Don’t forget the millions. Nor that the Guyana Government and Exxon’s local governor aren’t saying much of anything. Where is Chevron and Mike Wirth? Gosh, I miss Mr. Hess. He could be counted on for a happy quote. Let the chips fall wherever they do. Since Chevron doesn’t speak, and the Chinese are as stoic as an owl, that leaves Sir Alistair Routledge. My God: what did I do to deserve such a fate? If it’s thy will, let this cup pass. But only if it is thy will. I keep going to whatever awaits. Of two things I am certain: more exposés from Mr. Ram, more fireworks. And more of Pres. Ali making himself disappear when oil contract and oil money are mentioned.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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Chris Ram, foolishness, GHK Lall, Guyana Oil, Hess

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