Dear Editor,
ExxonMobil has encountered difficulty with the United States’ government during its operations in the United States (US) but the present energy crisis worldwide should provide them with an opportunity to resolve this conflict, if it still exists. This should also be an opening for Guyana to influence Exxon (although I believe that Exxon is experienced and wily enough to have already considered this) to supply the US. The advantage to us is that we could gain unflinching support for the territorial threat we face from Venezuela and Suriname. If Exxon has a trace of moral conscience it could now be displayed through this patriotic gesture to the US. It is incumbent on them to do so as the number one oil and gas producing company in the US based on the total value of all their shares of stock, referred to as market capitalization.
This seems like an elementary and adroit move which even a well-educated and grounded high school student would possess. It draws to mind the egregious contract between Exxon and our government and the unconstitutional allocation of excessive oil blocks. These actions reveal the lack of devotion to the upliftment of Guyanese by our administrators and the brazen distribution of our inheritance for the benefit of other countries. This is no xenophobic attitude but must be the feeling of any Guyanese with the wisdom, backbone and integrity to defy any colossal power while having the interest of each other at heart. It is a curiosity pertaining to Madam Ambassador Lynch’s viewpoint or lack of it, on this matter, as she continues to represent the interest of the US. Oil obtained from Guyana for the US will save President Biden from having to continue releasing the emergency oil reserves from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve which he recently started doing.
Not professing to be an expert in the field of oil and gas, my intention is for the nation to derive the most it can, to compensate for the unjust returns that were previously obtained from the production of oil and other natural resources. Despite the US producing more crude oil than it needs, it is still dependent on imports of oil and gas. Oil from Guyana could cost less for the US to convert rather than obtaining it from other sources, because it is light, would require less refining and is easy to break down to fuel, gasoline and jet fuel. The US would not have to become bedfellows with or kowtow to Venezuela (which has become a pariah to them and many democratic countries) for oil imports. Based on the fine quality of our oil, we could negotiate for the best deal (a word of caution here because we seem to be incapable of doing so). India is willing to buy our oil so the US will obviously be able and willing to do so.
Sincerely,
Conrad Barrow