Caricom oil producers to the polls in 2020

Nearly half of all the Caricom members states will go to the polls this year. Reports indicate that 7 of the 15 member states will go to the polls. The oil producing countries within the Caricom namely Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago will also hold general elections in 2020. These Caricom member states are strongly dependent on one another when it comes to the oil industry. Trinidad and Tobago is the island where the exploration ships that are active near the coast of Suriname and Guyana go to purchase new supplies because Suriname and neighboring Guyana do not have deep water ports. This business involves hundreds of millions in cash flow. Trinidad also has an oil refinery and bunker stations. Suriname’s oil imports also go via Trinidad. One noticeable fact is that the use of the oil sector for the benefit of national development is the main promise during the election campaigns. In neighboring Guyana the opposition parties are putting the emphasis on the deals that were closed with ExxonMobil. It will be a huge challenge for the PNC of President David Granger to halt the growth of the biggest opposition party in Guyana, the PPP. The PPP which is led by former president Bharrat Jagdeo aims at winning the elections one more time. In Suriname the election rivalry is between the National Democratic Party (NDP) of President Desi Bouterse and the VHP, the biggest opposition party. The most important subject during the election campaigns is the destination of the expected income from the oil industry. 2020 is deemed an important election year globally as the citizens of about 61 countries go to the polls.