Dear Editor,
The recent disclosures of Guyanese politicians and spokespersons being on Exxon’s payroll should come as no surprise. Because the very unusual circumstances of the execution of the Exxon Production Sharing Agreement in 2016, as we have come to learn, thanks to Mr. Raphael Trotman, shockingly, didn’t seem alarming at all. He stated as a matter of fact, that he was coerced to sign this unconscionable deal.
The foregoing begs the question as to whether Guyanese will permit Exxon and its partners to coopt or corrupt the political elite in our country. Without a doubt, this question is also very much about us as a people as it’s about the leaders we chose.
Editor, Exxon’s presence in this nation must be permitted only for the good of this nation. It’s not lost upon our compatriots as to our bloody and bitter history with Colonial Sugar. And yes, indeed Oil & Gas presents great economic opportunities for our people’s growth. So it was with Colonial sugar even as we were vassals.
Today, it’s abundantly clear that we are precipitously being dragged back into a vassal state. We must not become an Exxon Plantation. Some politicians are prepared to serve this new foreign corporate power for their own economic/political interests, as Forbes Burnham did with the United States of America. This would be a brutal repeat of the past we so painfully decry. This multinational monstrosity will suck not only oil from the seabed but the very blood from our sinew to satiate its rapacious appetite.
Guyanese demanding equity are often slapped around with banter about sanctity of contract when it comes to the Exxon PSA. It’s pontificated upon us as some inviolable legal principle from up high. However, superior to that important principle is our very national sovereignty. Both are important, however, a people who cannot freely choose their leaders will have no sanctity, no contract nor any sovereignty. And therein lies our dilemma. All will be lost.
If Exxon is permitted to choose winners and losers in our contentious political landscape, then we must as a people make an extremely difficult choice. Some may reject what they see as a binary choice – oil or no oil. Alternatively, what is in reality being presented is a choice between economic independence or political repression. Because when we cannot make free political choices we will neither have much of an economy nor any independence.
Editor, neither Exxon nor any of our politicians will disclose any conflict of interest, whether any political leader is on Exxon’s payroll or what advisory relationships any political influencer may or may not have with that company. The question for us all is what kind of relationship we want with Exxon and are we prepared to accept the consequences of our decision, however we chose?
Sincerely,
Fuad Rahaman
