Dear Editor,
In a letter published in the July 16, 2024 edition of the Stabroek News, Joel Bhagwandin admitted to being under contract with Exxon Mobil Guyana Limited (EMGL).
Mr Bhagwandin over the past year has had numerous letters published in various newspapers such as the Stabroek News, Guyana Times, Guyana Standard, and Guyana Chronicle questioning the legitimacy of OGGN. Here is a sample list of letters:
1) July 27th, 2023 Stabroek News – The legitimacy of the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) is highly questionable
2) July 31, 2023 edition of Guyana Chronicle – OGGN Part 2: Is the OGGN adhering to the provisions of 501(c) (3)?
3) August 7th, 2023 in Guyana Standard – Bhagwandin calls on govt. to no longer recognise OGGN as a legitimate organization
4) March 23th, 2024 in Guyana Chronicle – Orgasmic excitement and the construction of a political narrative (Part I)
5) March 27th, 2024 in Guyana Standard – OGGN continues to display gross level of ignorance on basic issues
6) March 28th, 2024 in Guyana Chronicle – OGGN’s brazen bogus behaviour
Mr Bhagwandin must have dedicated significant time to researching and writing these letters that peddle false narratives about OGGN. As evident from the sequence of sample letters, he was engaged in this activity over the past year. The OGGN, and many readers of this newspaper would like to know, now that Mr Bhagwandin is free from his Exxon Mobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) contract, if his EMGL contract was linked to his writing any or all the letters mentioned above. A non-response from him from him would be as enlightening as a response.
We thank Dr Gary Girdhari for supporting us when these attacks started, in his letter to Stabroek News on July 28th, 2023, see https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/07/28/opinion/letters/oggn-is-a-bona-fide-non-profit-organization-whose-members-are-impeccably-clean/. He stated with respect to Bhagwandin, “…people do stupid things sometimes! Some out of ignorance. Some because they are told to do so, and fear that they may otherwise lose their jobs. Some because they enjoy the ride on the gravy train. Some because they love to dance – dance to the fiddler’s tune.“
We at OGGN have been advocating for renegotiation of the lopsided Stabroek Block contract that favours Exxon and its oil partners. Irrespective of the government in power, since the summer 2017, we have been making Guyanese and others aware of all the issues with the Stabroek Block contract, see www.oggn.org. We will continue this work because Guyana deserves a fair deal. In fact, we would like to invite Mr Bhagwandin to our July 27th, 2024 event in New York City. At this event, distinguished Guyanese intellects – Dr Vincent Adams and Chris Ram – will discuss why the Stabroek Block contract should be renegotiated, see www.oggn.org/event. At the event, Mr Bhagwandin can meet our members and determine for himself if we are real or not.
Yours faithfully,
Darshanand Khusial
Alfred Bhulai
Andre Brandli
Kenrick Hunte
Charles Sugrim
Joe Persaud
On behalf of OGGN a 501(c)(3)
Organization
