Dear Editor,
Reference is made to SN of May 06, 2021 where article states ‘India interested in annual purchase of Guyana crude oil.’ Thanks to media worldwide our obscure Guyana was launched into notoriety of oil discovery. I challenge the acclaim being made here that Guyana has crude oil to export.
The scheme which was established on our foreshore has nothing to do with Guyana. Foreign ownership sees to that. The space is under another country’s flag though unshown. Guyana gets what spills out of their ship. How many people in Guyana has seen a drop of this oil we are exporting? In any other country there would be transparent barrels hoisted on pedestals in every major town to inspire pride of which there is none. Can we afford this?
When they give away oil blocks without any security oversight all sorts of nefarious scenarios can develop. Some will call this a fools’ paradise. This is the method by which development from oil and gas never reaches Guyana. The innocent enquirer I am sure will be referred to the real dealer. Meanwhile our great leaders will continue to bask in the false light of being an oil exporter content with scraping the bottom of the barrel. On the whole Guyana still trades its commodities as in the age of Sir Walter Raleigh. A primary product producing country. Should I say more?
Sincerely,
John de Barros
