Hopefully, a competent Gov’t will be able to extract a more balanced deal from oil sector for Guyana

Dear Editor,

The year 2019 commenced with the Government being defeated in the National Assembly by a NoConfidence Motion passed by a majority of the Members of the House. Rather than comply with the constitutionally mandated procedure of the Cabinet, inclusive of the President, resigning, and for a date for general elections be fixed within three months thereof, the Government decided to defy the Constitution, subvert the NoConfidence Motion and place democracy upon trial. Consequently, the entire year was consumed by political battles between the political Opposition seeking constitutional compliance and the Government, forcefully resisting same.

These battles manifested themselves in numerous litigious forays, some ending at the apex court of the land, and countrywide protest actions. Not unexpectedly, GECOM took centre stage in this political crossfire. It was repeatedly used as a political football of the Government to avoid fixing a date for the elections prescribed by the Constitution, as well as being utilized as an instrument to execute the political agenda of the Government of denying qualified Guyanese, their constitutional right to vote.

The year is concluding with an ongoing combat for a clean and credible voters’ list, an illegal Government clinging to political power but whose constitutional tenure has long expired. The de facto President has proclaimed March 2, 2020, as the date for the next elections but only did so after the exertion of tremendous national and international pressure.

Still yet, he obdurately refuses to dissolve a Parliament whose life has constitutionally expired (in any event), though the deadline for so doing is ominously approaching.

Naturally, such a toxic political environment has produced greater unemployment, major closures in the sugar sector, a decline in almost every productive sector, as well as reduced activities in the trade and commercial sectors. Predictably, social ills of the types like crime, suicide, domestic violence and drug abuse, have found fertile ground to blossom even more. The pervasive constitutional violations and abrogation of democratic norms have equaled corruption in almost every sector of Government.

The oil and gas sector has emerged like a rainbow over these dark clouds. Billions of United States dollars have already been invested in the sector and many believed that it is this injection that has kept the economy afloat. Just a few days ago, we celebrated the production of first oil which was succeeded by another disclosure of new oil discoveries.

Notwithstanding, that the Government is yet to promulgate local content policy directives, any legislative framework and has established no competent regulatory network but instead, has saddled the nation with grossly lopsided production agreements, the economy and indeed, the life of every single Guyanese, is expected to enjoy transformational changes.

Next year, will be a defining one from the perspective that a competent Government will be required to chart a course that must ensure a more balanced deal from the oil sector for Guyana. This is non-negotiable. For if we are to continue in the current mold, then Guyana will certainly join that long litany of nations that this great sector has failed to extricate from the cycle of poverty. It is the duty of every Guyanese to demand a fair share of their national patrimony from their political leaders. Hopefully, a competent Government will be able to extract a more balanced deal from the oil sector for Guyana.

Before I close, I consider it a profound tragedy that Guyanese still yet cannot be assured that their next elections are going to be free and fair and free from fear. Many genuinely feel, and I dare say, not without justification, that the dark days of rigged elections and political dictatorship, are still lurking in the shadows of our horizon.

I conclude by appealing to every Guyanese to exercise your right to vote and when you do so, vote upon issues and track record of performance rather than race and emotions. Once we make the right choices, Guyana’s future will be brighter than most. Whether we make that future a reality, is in our own hands.

Yours faithfully, Anil Nandlall