Dear Editor,
Both SN and KN had lengthy coverage of the Vice President’s public statements re the gas to shore project. In providing answers, he opened the floodgates to a cascade of still more questions, which simply rolls Guyanese up the hill (like Sisyphus), only for them to come rolling right back down. We heard of studies before, but which were state secrets given the stubborn resistance to any information sharing. Now we hear of four more impressive sounding studies, which are sure to soothe gullible Guyanese. Which outfits are doing them? What was the process to finalize them? Who is going to be involved in that shortlisting process? Who should have been? The questions continue. What is (here is the key) their known and unknown relationship with Exxon? And why only now is the nation being told this?
This is not confidence-boosting governance, not when oil is involved; not with its history; and not with the histories of this country’s political parties with national matters far less tempting, less rewarding. And most certainly, it is not about the transparency that President Irfan Ali himself swore to, but of which he now makes a mockery with regards to most things. Editor, it is said better late than never. In this instance, never might have been better. I say this because, it is the PPP and its Vice President, that have repeatedly pushed and insisted that it is Wales, and that Wales it will be, and only Wales will do for the onshore facilities. Since that is (not seems) a foregone conclusion, only one thing can be said. Whichever agency has been selected and entrusted (two deep and dangerous words) to study and report on the feasibility of Wales, has only one option: custom tailor a study and report that leads nowhere but only to Wales.
Those of us who operate in real life have a wide appreciation of the way the world truly works, when political machinations are at work. Get some likeminded men and similar groups, ensure that the role is fully understood and nonnegotiable expectations as to outcomes appreciated, give them their marching orders, and then sit back and count the days and the chickens involved. Those who deliver are sure to live another day; that is, positioning themselves to get more of the same kinds of favorable consideration and lucrative business. All they are responsible for is to fill in the blanks, as given to them by the PPP government. The Vice President may think that he has been open and enlightening. But what he has done is added vagueness to prior vagueness. Why this took so long? Why the prior secrecy? Why Wales? Why not more on the other studies and sites, one or two of which have much going for it? The descent to hell is easy; I remind Guyana that the return journey can be a hell of a ride.
I remind my fellow Guyanese of something else: he who sups with the devil should do so with a long spoon. Oil customarily calls for the longest of spoons. Editor, I leave with this closing note, instead of hiding on this oil for an eternity, the Vice President could have seized the opportunity early and earned himself some rare credibility. Like I said: for every answer, there comes several more troubling questions.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
