Curse
Defined as an expression of evil, misfortune or doom, many believe that curses are inexorable. With the discoveries of oil around the world, the fortunes amassed from it and its uses, oil has not escaped being labelled as a curse to some nations. There are scholarly articles that expound on the subject. Some governments that have benefitted from oil became dictatorial which led to corruption and in some cases, wars. Such examples support the concept about the curse of oil. Countries like Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Venezuela have all been affected by the glory and doom of oil. It has also been noted that some of such authoritarian governments remain in power by appeasing the people. Some such ways include granting huge funds to welfare programmes and giving citizens cash.
With Guyana’s 16 discoveries to date, there are many questions to consider about our risk of being labelled as cursed with oil. Considering our past and how zero discoveries would have corrupted once humble men who unashamedly stole the king’s share of Guyana’s wealth, are we destined to become victims of the oil curse?
But, is the concept about curses valid? Are they inevitable; a fragment of what maintains the balance of good and evil? Unavoidable regardless of the interventions of man?
Religious zealots swear on the power of curses. Sorcerers often claim to orchestrate them. We may all be familiar with the notion of generational curses when it is believed that the sins of the ancestors are the cause of the misfortune of their offspring. Often, some detestable human beings would also blame their poor choices on curses.
But how could oil itself, a natural resource of the earth, be a curse? When undisturbed from the dark depths of the ocean or land, does the oil pose a threat to the balance or preservation of the earth? Does it summon man’s intervention to explore and barrel it? It does not. Then, perhaps the notion of oil itself being a curse should be redefined or dismissed. Most of what has happened to us as humans has been coordinated by our hands. How we have mismanaged what the earth has offered us. How we have abused power. In many instances, we have gone against the laws in nature. Some of our inventions, which have also made our lives easier in many ways, have also not been in the best interest of maintaining the natural balance of the Earth. Environmentalists will argue that oil exploration is one such. I reiterate, however, that I do not believe that the earth’s black gold comes with some force of nature ordering doom to mankind. The crux of most of the destruction oil has caused in those countries that are said to be under the curse is the selfishness, arrogance and greed of man.
Corruption
There have been many accusations of corruption in governments of Guyana. From politicians taking the king’s share as aforementioned, discrimination against those who do not support a regime, allegations of state-sponsored executions of the recent and distant past, friends and families being the beneficiaries of the opportunities and best portions of the land, to Guyana once being a narco-state, the disregard for the Constitution, among many other ills. Selfishness, arrogance and greed are interwoven into the fabric of our society. And although it is a thread that runs throughout the world, the Guyanese people have been through many woes of what corruption brings and frankly we have had enough.
But would the oil further drive those who believe that only they deserve the good life to line their pockets in black gold revenue while the average man lines his pockets with the pittances that are low wages and salaries for many, remittances, and from crime? I reiterate, we have had enough but will those we entrust with the power to govern us make the choice to avoid further plunging us into a cesspool of desperation to run, to fight against our brothers and sisters and therefore throwing us into further crisis?
Crisis
A 2014 article on energypost.eu, titled ‘Twenty-first century energy wars: how oil and gas are fueling global conflicts, lists a number of countries that have encountered wars linked to oil and gas. Iraq and Syria, where ISIS controls a large portion of oil, are two such countries. Nigeria and South Sudan, where politicians with access to oil revenues have become wealthy while neglecting the people, which has led to crisis, are also two.
Venezuela is also in a state of crisis. The former president, the late Hugo Chavez, spent large amounts on social programmes from petroleum revenues. Perhaps the oil revenue created an illusion that never would the Venezuelan pots be empty but look at what is happening today. Many of its citizens are impoverished and fleeing to greener pastures and for many of them, Guyana is that greener pasture.
Curse, Corruption and Crisis
We, the Guyanese people, have been sitting on oil undisturbed for years unknown. Even without an oil curse, looking at our history, many would say that we are a cursed nation. But every trial that we have faced, every war that we have fought since Independence have been mostly because of us. We are not cursed but imprisoned by our unwillingness to see each other as equals; to look pass the differences that comes with culture, religion, history and ethnicity, and to hold politicians accountable. Those are our greatest disadvantages and many of us refuse to evolve.
Currently, our country is in crisis because of the uncertainties regarding the next general elections. Can we really endure six more months of the state of crisis? Oil will not fix us. If anything, it may further divide us if we follow the patterns that have labelled other nations as being cursed. We are at a critical point in our history where we will either sink deeper than the oil wells or swim to a cohesive and progressive Guyana. The outcome could seem dismal if we were to solely focus on what has happened in those countries labelled as cursed with oil, but it does not have to be for us. Countries such as Norway, which wisely invested oil revenues for the benefit of all its citizens, which has the largest sovereign wealth fund, should stand as an example for us Guyanese.
We have lived under authoritarian governments. We continue to suffer because of it. We, the people, have the power to ensure that we change the course, but with the same political powers in a fight, do we stand a chance?
Nevertheless, we cannot fall into the trap like countries who pacify their citizens with cash, just to garner their support. There are talks about Guyanese receiving cash handouts from oil revenues which may do very well for many who are living in poverty. Still, we need leaders with vision who will ensure that all Guyanese benefit from the country’s wealth. Leaders who will plan for the generations to come so that they would not have to face the consequences of the oil curse.
