Who looked out for us?

Dear Editor,

The caption captivated: “David Granger authorized Orinduik oil block deal – Raphael Trotman” (KN December 7). If the caption captivated, the details mesmerized as to how things panned out, what could have been. But then, there was more.
Before advancing one word further, I share this: in all my conversations with the former Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman, assurances were given that orders were followed, hands are clean on this oil, and that the public hammering must be taken on the chin stoically. Having received these words of his, it is where I stand. Now I proceed. As quoted in the KN article referenced, Mr. Trotman said, “I acted on directions…” The way I look at this, those directions could only have been handed down by one of two sources: the former president himself or the Cabinet.

Of course, this opens the bottomless can of worms with the equivalents of: how can you? Why did you? And: that can’t be all? Excited and expectant citizens, now living in real time the hopes and dreams of their ancestors, are hard pressed to accept that, to settle for just that alone. It is not comforting. More is sought, more waited upon, more to clear up the murk and mysteries of what really happened with this oil, who is responsible for what is now a full-fledged tragedy, and how and to where do we as a nation and as individual citizens go from here.

Instead of helping us see the light, this oil – and all of its related developments – has plunged us into darkness and the grimness that comes from such. We thought we would be better off, but rather than looking ahead, we are now compelled to looking backwards and at the records and memories and oral histories of our people, who were locked in slavery and indentureship for ages. Their lives we do not want to relive. Their enslaving experiences must not be repeated as ours, compliments of Exxon and the possibly helpless Guyanese men that partnered with them to give away our prospects and reward us with what incurs the wrathful. From that rage, there is ample firewood to fuel our hatreds directed internally. This, too, is a hallmark of what oil powers cultivate in impoverished divided lands, with Exxon being not the exception, but a leader. It has been to more places, discarded more people and their many anticipations into the gutters of despair.

This is what it and its partners have done and will do some more. For what Mr. Trotman revealed, as carried in the KN article, was that no less a person than the former British High Commissioner, His Excellency Greg Quinn, went to bat for his own. That would be Tullow Oil. Excellency Quinn was quick to point out that he was doing what was expected of him, the standing norm in the way these representations work. In other words, he did his job and he worked hard and long on behalf of his own. I applaud him on his zeal for things British, and as I do so, so many other things, parallel things, strike with a mailed fist to the face.

How well we would have been served if our own people fought tooth and nail, and in the clear, for us, on this oil of ours. Starting with the PPP that worked doggedly to beat-down Guyanese who stood in their way before (writers, papers, naysayers), but like regular pathetic bullies backed down when real challenge came. It came in the form of Exxon. What the PPP started the PNC continued. Yes, I appreciate that even with those paltry terms that Guyana stands to gain much, but those costs and add-ons, all crooked and corrupt, kill us, and drain away blood and organs to sell for still more profit by Exxon. I wish that we came out better, our longstanding menace notwithstanding.

I say that we would have been better served if all oil truths-timely and frankly-were put before the Guyanese public, with conversations such as: this is where we are, this is what is in store, and this is how we will work (like High Commissioner Quinn) to do more, get more. Except that none of this was done. Despite now being fastened behind the 8-ball, Guyanese leaders can still recover and be resourceful (a loaded word, indeed) on how to do better going forward. Both the PPP and PNC must come clean on this. This I have made clear, too. Whether there will be listening, and acting is unclear. Guyanese deserve better, need more, must know more.

Sincerely,
GHK Lall