Perhaps each year we should have a week off from talking about oil. A sabbatical, “a dry January” where the politicians can’t prattle on about auctions and pipelines, and journalists and letter writers can devote time to write about all the other stuff actually going on in the country. We can forget for a peaceful moment this industry which like some giant anaconda seems to be relentlessly swallowing our collective consciousness.
A timeout for oil.
Especially after this week of high profile preening as the government for another year monopolised the oil expo, which like all industry events is simply a place where the delegates can talk amongst themselves and build partnerships. The energy business is unique. It is not like buying a container of toilet paper from China. It is highly collaborative and given the levels of investments and safety issues, partners must be trustworthy and reliable.
It feels right now that we are oil obsessed – both those for it and looking to make money and those against who seem even more consumed. In a few short years we have learnt a whole new language: Production Sharing Agreement, FPSOs, Nameplate capacity, Christmas trees…..Many are now experts on contract law specific to the energy sector, others breezily discuss the intricacies of gas to shore projects. But perhaps the most obsessed are our political leaders who seem to take all the credit. How extraordinary that the Minister of Natural Resources could tell the energy expo “that there was a time when some of us were probably ashamed to be Guyanese, some of us probably hid our passports when we were travelling” but that now his government is “bringing back hope to our beautiful country.” Really? No one should be ashamed of their country no matter how poor. True patriotism is not so fickle. Is the minister saying he is now proud about his “blessed” country simply because we stumbled into 11 billion barrels of oil? And what part of getting this oil out of the ground did he play a part in rather than sitting back and simply allowing it to happen?
This sounds like someone who takes credit for winning the lottery but his home and family remain in disarray. We might present a pretty face to investors but when you wipe off the makeup this is still a dysfunctional democracy, where the President and the Leader of the Opposition refuse to meet each other, where the judiciary – the only current restraint against executive excesses – is understaffed and hobbled through the non-appointments of the Chancellor and Chief Justice. This is still a country with a horrendous domestic murder rate and where at least one third of the population is living in poverty. And we still can’t drink the water. Not much has changed since December 2018 and first oil. Only the arrogance of the politicians and their refusal to consult with the people on creating a shared vision on how we want this country to be. One Guyana is one man’s slogan as empty of meaning as the East Coast “Corridor of Unity and Oneness”.
Perhaps some of us naively thought that with the advent of oil revenues and rising incomes, the sting might be taken out of our venomous politics. That we could simmer down as a people. Alas it has not been the case to date. Much of this current acrimony is the result of the attempted rigging of the 2020 elections on behalf of APNU but Big Oil has also thrown kerosene on the fire with competition for economic resources and opportunities. It’s enough to want us to rewind to “simpler” times Before Oil. But we can’t and really the debate must turn to how we can make the best of our “fortune” both economically and politically. Sadly this looks far from achievable given the current climate and the complete lack of leverage the opposition has to force the government to include it in governance.
External pressure must be applied to resolve the current situation especially when it comes to the Guyana Elections Commission. Its inability to hold local government elections on time and the con-troversy over the voters list are highly disturbing. Elections are not the be all and end of a democracy but they are its foundation and as such the current impasse must be breached now. If not settled, the 2025 general elections could be at risk and Guyana will face another period of political instability that no amount of oil money will fix. It’s time to get our house in order.