Dear Editor,
I thank the besieged head of Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the reassurances he gave in a recent virtual consultation. It was that Guyana’s laws provide for insurance coverage in the event of an oil spill related to the Yellowtail Project (`Oil spill insurance for Exxon’s Yellowtail project will adhere to law -EPA Head’ SN November 16). I think that that is beautiful, but it is only half, an eighth only, of the story that this hardy senior Guyanese public servant attempted as some sort of soothing balm for alarms that continue to ring.
For sure, the requirement for such protection is enshrined in the local Environmental Protection Act. It is a restatement of the obvious and, to steal a word (or two) a ‘no-brainer.’ But, I am sure that the local EPA head is familiar with a saying that enjoys mileage here. It is that one haan caan clap. Or, notwithstanding his verbal flourish in that virtual moment, I remind him, even a marriage of convenience, cannot go forward, has no meaning, with only one party. That is basic, Mr. EPA Head.
For the other side of any oil spill insurance contract, the main party, is not saying anything of substance. In terms of making provision for the appropriate liability, and being very vocal about it, with the proper insurance documents to support any claims about required insurance oil spill coverage, mighty Exxon has been studiously vague and absentminded. Whereas its people can be very articulate and specific about just about any topic, including the ins and outs of climate change science, those same powerful people from Exxon have been ballet dancers and ice skaters where insurance coverage is concerned. Naturally, Exxon being Exxon, it got this country’s Vice President to try out a spit bubble on Guyanese for size, so it could gauge reactions. It was on that paltry US$2 billion insurance possibility. The Vice President is nothing if not a smart man (Guyanese have a special way with that word), because he knows that simply to mention one magic word in a sentence and ahm, ahem, unlearning Guyanese forget their troubles. He gave them two such magic words, which represented overkill. The first was American dollar, while the second was billions. It’s Christmas time for Guyanese. Gawd bless de VP, and de lawd bless eggzaan.
So, when the EPA Head educated listeners about the EPA Act, he could have saved his breath. Because the spoiler in the pack is Exxon, and it aint sehin: I do. Insurance coverage, which insurance coverage?
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
