Dear Editor,
I was rather irked when I read a letter by Dr. Randolph Persaud (Stabroek News, February 6, 2023) in confutation to Melinda Janki’s Letter – “I did not represent Exxon in the 1999 Petroleum Agreement.” (SN, February 3, 2023). Melinda Janki’s letter speaks for itself. Melinda Janki clearly stated that she worked for Big Oil in the past. She subsequently became adamantly opposed to fossil fuel extraction. Now she favours good ecological practices. Presumably, she saw the light. She is a lawyer and environmentalist, and is quite able to speak for herself.
All of us are guilty of bad practices, both in our private and public lives, past and present. Oftentimes, we behave in ways dictated by the prevailing circumstances. Some would do so opportunistically! Some deliberately so defying evidence, norms, morality, and basic commonsense. (I smoked cigarettes because it was OK – Hollywood affirmed then – and it was “cool”. For similar reason, I indulged in rum-drinking.) Now I am reformed because of the preponderance of evidence against smoking and drinking. Relate this….
Nattily woven and disguised in Dr. Randolph Persaud’s letter is language that borders on ad hominem rants. Dr. Randolph Persaud’s concludes that “…it is fashionable to be anti-development based on hydrocarbon resources, she [Melinda Janki] is against oil and gas.” This is perplexing. Melinda Janki may be “anti-development based on hydrocarbon resources (my emphasis)”, but this does not mean she is necessarily anti-development. Dr. Randolph Persaud wades in the lure of post hoc fallacy! Further, anti-development based on hydrocarbon resources is not “fashionable”. There are multitudes of authoritative evidence against fossil extractive industries vis a vis CO2 emission and global warming. Indeed, we should all be aware of the existential threat of climate crisis. Since Guyana’s lopsided and myopic bad deal with Big Oil, Melinda Janki has been an advocate of good environmental practice.
I don’t know the terms of employment nor job description of Dr. Randolph Persaud, but certainly it does not look like good public relation or amicable press communication. I am told that Dr. Randolph Persaud now works for the PPP government (in what capacity?). He is thus doing his job as required of him. Who then is the piper and who dances to the tune? Dr. Randolph Persaud spent his adult life in academe in America University. Now it appears that he is foremost in the government propaganda machinery and, like a well-fed attack dog, he is doing the master’s bidding. This, in my opinion, takes away from the sanctity of intellectual truthfulness. Heed the words of the wise and mend your ways before it’s too late so as to maintain prestigious professorial standing. Let sleeping dogs lie.
Sincerely,
Gary Girdhari