Dear Editor,
This letter seeks to highlight the disparity between Exxon’s immense financial power and Guyana’s growing, yet comparatively modest, economic stature. It underscores the challenges faced by Guyanese economists in negotiating with such a formidable entity and does so with a satirical tone that emphasizes the perceived superiority of Exxon’s leadership.
I recently had the pleasure of perusing the latest balance sheet from ExxonMobil and, in the same breath, the most recent GDP figures for our beloved Guyana. The juxtaposition of these two financial statements has left me in a state of bemusement that only the finest cartoonist can capture. ExxonMobil, with its impressive revenue streams and profit margins, stands as a towering giant in the world of economics. Their balance sheet, a gleaming testament to capitalism, is laden with billions in assets, revenues that dwarf small nations, and profits that would make even the most ambitious oligarch blush. Their leadership, no doubt, must look down upon our humble Guyana with an air of superiority that rivals the loftiest of skyscrapers.
On the other hand, Guyana’s GDP, while growing, remains a mere drop in the vast ocean of Exxon’s financial prowess. Our Moscow-trained economists, who have spent countless hours deciphering economic models and crafting policies, must feel like humble schoolchildren in the presence of Exxon’s corporate titans. After all, how can years of academic rigor and practical experience compete with the sheer magnitude of Exxon’s quarterly earnings?
Exxon’s executives, I imagine, must gather in their plush boardrooms, sipping on the finest cognac, chuckling at the quaint efforts of Guyana to manage its economy. “How adorable,” they might say, “that a nation with a GDP less than our annual marketing budget believes it can negotiate with us.” The thought of negotiating oil contracts with a country whose entire economic output is but a fraction of their net income must seem as ludicrous as a ‘cacabelly’ fish attempting to outswim a whale.
Yet, one must admire the audacity of our Moscow-trained economists. Armed with nothing but their intellect and a passion for their nation’s welfare, they stand toe-to-toe with the financial behemoth that is ExxonMobil. It is a modern-day David and Goliath tale, though this time, David’s slingshot is a PowerPoint presentation and Goliath’s armor is a fortress of cash reserves.
In conclusion, let us tip our hats to the brave economists of Guyana, who face the daunting task of navigating the treacherous waters of international oil negotiations. And let us also acknowledge the undeniable reality that Exxon’s leadership, with their balance sheets of grandeur, may indeed possess an air of superiority. After all, when your financial statements are measured in billions and your counterparts’ in millions, a little haughtiness is to be expected.
Sincerely,
Keith Bernard
