Dear Editor,
I am an engineer by profession so I will try to make my point in a succinct manner and not “beat around the bush”! As a non-resident Guyanese who resided in Guyana during the turbulent, corrupt, and oppressive regime of the PNC followed by the progressive, inclusive, and successful PPP regime, I can empathize with folks who are still struggling in Guyana today. It has been almost 8 years since ExxonMobil extracted oil from Guyana offshore bases. The minimum wage in Guyana in 2015 was approximately $170 USD. In 2023, eight years later, the minimum wage in Guyana is approximately $290 USD.
During the eight years’ period, ExxonMobil and their subcontractors have declared billions of dollars in profits and the shareholders of ExxonMobil and their subcontractors are all smiling their way to the bank! Guyana also has huge reserves of gold, diamond, and bauxite. It is fair to say that the multinationals are raping and plundering our beloved Guyana. As a strong PPP supporter who has high confidence in the Ali / Jagdeo administration, I respectfully request these fine gentlemen to find ways in which more oil money can go into the hands of the average Guyanese.
Sincerely,
Shiv Maharaj, PhD
