Gov’t’s decision to appeal ruling...
have expressed concern about his failure to represent the interests of Guyanese people, and his actions have been viewed as an attempt to undermine the court’s decision. These signs are troubling, and it is essential for the government to act in the best interest of the people to avoid longterm consequences for Guyana’s future. Failure to do so could lead to a situation where Guyana ends up worse than Venezuela in years to come.
The recent court ruling on ExxonMobil’s oil spill guarantee is an important step towards ensuring the protection of Guyana’s environment and natural resources. However, the Government’s decision to appeal the ruling raises questions about their commitment to transparency and accountability. It is crucial for the government to prioritize the interests of the Guyanese people and act in their best interest to avoid long-term consequences for the country’s future. I join in expressing strong sentiments that the ruling of the court is a victory for the people of Guyana and must be seen as reminding the Government of its role to protect our national patrimony to the benefit of all Guyanese.
Sincerely,
Pt. Ubraj Narine
Mayor of the City of Georgetown
Dear Editor,
There are many local and international conversations occurring daily about Guyana’s oil resource, and the potential transformation of the country and people, but equally important is our natural gas and the intended gas to shore project, which can be a game-changer for the country, in providing a reliable and affordable source of energy for domestic consumption and facilitating other industries’ growth. Editor, gas-to-energy has the potential to help eliminate the country’s reliance on imported diesel and other fossil fuels, which are expensive, and its production emits greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Gas-to-energy can generate significant revenue opportunities, boost economic growth, and make Guyana a major player on the South American continent and within CARICOM. Editor, one advantage of Gas-toenergy is the provision of reliable power supply, and a possible end to frequent blackouts. This project may ensure a steady, cost-effective, hence “cheaper”, power supply for consumers. Guyana currently obtains most of its power from expensive diesel generators, which are unreliable and costly, resulting in constant load shedding and fluctuations in the cost of energy that has long constrained economic development resulting in significant costs to small businesses, industries, and ordinary people.
The ready access to a reliable, constant energy supply will allow for new industries, maintain existing ones while attracting foreign direct investments. The abundance of affordable, reliable energy will enable the country to aggregate its service and manufacturing industries cost-effectively. For example, electric power is necessary in the mining industry, manufacturing industry, and transportation sector. Making manufacturing more cost-effective will aid in the creation of permanent jobs for our people. Constant and reliable power facilitates a more efficient electric transportation system thereby reducing the sector’s overall operating cost in a cleaner environment. Reliable power supply will facilitate the food, agriculture, health and healthcare sectors where temperature-controlled storage is essential, and for hospitals that require uninterrupted power supply. Providing affordable and reliable energy attracts foreign investments, creating job opportunities while generating income for the country’s GDP. Further, the Gas-to-energy project will increase Guyana’s revenue-generation capacity by leveraging its natural gas reserves to produce petrochemicals and other industrial products. The planned expansion of power production capacity will create excess gas, which we can partner with local and foreign companies to commercialize products.
Products such as Nitrogen Fertilizers, is one such that can be used to establish a nitrogen plant. Can you imagine how impactful this will be for local farmers and the agricultural sector, bringing Guyana closer to becoming the food basket of CARICOM? Further, a methanol production plant - with a renewable chemical base which can be synthesized from skidmounted methanol plants, providing a good yield of chemicals such as Formalin, when combined with methanol can be converted into many other derivatives, including the use of formaldehyde as a disinfectant and in the production of paints, all of which can be produced and sold to our neighbours. Another is Liquefied Natural gas (LNG). Excess gas produced can be liquefied and exported, providing additional revenue. Guyana can tap into the growing demand for LNG in the emerging economies of Asia and regional markets such as North America. Editor, Guyana is well placed to provide energy security for the Caribbean community, considering its proximity to other CARICOM member states. Gas can be exported to Caribbean states. For instance, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) market is largely underserved in CARICOM countries, and gas will go a long way to supplement current production.
Editor, the government has already established partnerships with Brazil,