Local businesses have been placed at disadvantage in oil and gas sector
Dear Editor,
The Granger administration initiated hostilities with the private sector immediately upon assumption of office in 2015, it is now 2019.
Oil in commercial quantity was announced days after the Granger administration was sworn in, any competent administration would have immediately commenced working on ways to ensure maximum benefit accrued locally from this new resource. Mr Granger did not, the focus of the first year was the Independence Jubilee celebrations in 2016. While Granger was focused on making merry, the companies that feed off of oil globally made their way onto our shores unimpeded, unheralded and under the cover of laws that offer no protection to Guyanese. Mr Granger saw no danger and Schlumberger, Halliburton et al set up operations without so much as a ‘by your leave’.
Editor, I understand Guyana giving ExxonMobil all kinds of breaks, they took a chance and signed a deal in 1999 with President Janet Jagan to explore our deepwater zone for Oil and they persevered after various costly setbacks, one should remember Shell walked away from the joint venture in the Stabroek Block in 2014. However, these oilfield service companies, worth billions have been given incredibly generous tax breaks and other concessions. In July 2019, well into its period of illegality (having failed to hold election by 21st March 2019) Granger sent a contingent of Ministers to Trinidad
on an ‘Investment outreach’ where they “engaged with over 200 business magnates and investors, the Guyanese team detailed investment opportunities in Guyana and outlined Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy policy while extending a welcome to regional investors to Guyana”. No Guyanese businesses were invited to participate in this initiative.
On the 16th of October 2019, the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago hosted A ‘Guyana Safety Forum’ at the National Conference Centre and neglected to invite any Guyanese business service organizations. The local business bodies were insulted by the complete shutout from the event. The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) all made condemnatory statements to that effect following the event. Present were the Kenson Group of Companies, a consortium of Trinidadian oil and gas companies; First Citizens Bank, a Trinidadian financial institution; Caribbean Tower Cranes Limited, Caribbean Safety Products Limited, HHSL Safety Systems Limited, the Hummingbird Group, IWES Limited and Oshes Limited, ExxonMobil, STOW, Saipem, OPITO and the Houston Area Safety Council. None of these companies or organizations is Guyanese owned. Guyana was represented by the Ministry of Social Protection, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), TVET Guyana, and the National Advisory Committee on Safety and Health. Not a single Guyanese owned or operated business was present. Guyanese must ask themselves whose interest this ‘foreign’ policy serves.
Guyanese should also beware of any explanations by Granger’s defenders that talk of adherence to the Treaty of Chaguaramas and ‘international free trade agreements’. Guyanese cannot sell eddoes to Trinidad, or even trans-ship honey to other destinations, is the Trinidad Government observing the letter of the Treaty? Or are they acting in the best interests of their citizens? Trade deals are renegotiated all the time, as circumstances change, for example, a patriotic stance by President Trump forced renegotiation of NAFTA to get a better deal for Americans. David Granger professes not to understand clear provisions of Articles in our Constitution that “require no gloss” but seems to be revel in the misshapen belief that Guyana must observe every iota of the Treaty to the detriment of locally owned businesses.
Guyanese are faced with a stark choice at the polls in 2020, to support local businesses and content; or live in the future as ‘second-class’ citizens in our dear land of Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Robin Singh