Bharrat Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali (Ali’s not my president anymore, and Jagdeo doesn’t work for or represent me.) almost every week it seems, come up with treats and titbits for Guyanese. This Friday Irfaan tossed $2.0 billion towards development of Agriculture. Public Servants and sugar workers got ten percent annual increases for 2024 also. A few weeks ago Irfaan promised another bridge for the Berbice River. Jagdeo also hinted at more cash grants coming up next year. But how much are they giving the oil companies? Would the PPP kindly disclose how much money they are giving to Exxon by not renegotiating the 2016 Contract? We are interested. I have been able to generate estimates (available at www.dncgy.com) which show that they handed the oil companies about US$2.3 billion so far (that’s $483 billion, money that should be coming into Guyana, that Guyanese should be spending, our businesses should be benefitting from.). And these amounts will only increase as the oil companies expand production, as they have promised.
Regarding the windfall tax proposal, Guyanese should realize by now that the PPP isn’t remotely interested in Guyana’s welfare. They will never, I said NEVER, renegotiate the 2016 Contract for all the reasons we know they would sue our independent media for.
I have come to understand and appreciate why our business community generally supports the PPP, this being because of their and the nation’s costly experience of the PNCs discriminatory and destructive economic management practices. I nevertheless ask that they consider the magnitude of the amounts the PPP is giving the oil companies, monies that should be spent in the local economy to boost their own revenues and profits. Guyana’s oil is a lot of money, big business. I ask them to see that our national politics is big business, and we can’t allow the PPP to continue giving away our money as they are doing. I challenge the business community to step up to the plate. They, Guyanese cannot afford the PPP in office anymore. Their bottom lines are being affected, the welfare of Guyanese is affected, and Guyana will continue in its underdevelopment under the PPP. It is estimated that the PPP will be giving the oil companies a whopping US$49 billion (G$10.3 trillion) over the life of the reserves. That’s G$10.3 trillion Guyanese won’t see, their businesses wouldn’t get the benefit of. It makes sound business sense to put a stop to the rape and pillage of our national wealth. Guyana is being sold down the line under the PPP. Consider today as the day after the 2025 elections. Who is in power? What will you tell your children?
Wishing All Guyanese a Wonderful, Happy, and Blessed Xmas Season 2024!! Do enjoy your money, and keep some until next pay-day!
Craig Sylvester.