It would be a blunder to take on Exxon head on. At least, I think so. The American corporate behemoth is at the peak of its power, with allies all over Washington. Every official house, every house on the cocktail party circuit, and every golf course, where the best business is discussed, finalised. Want to do a deal on oil and Guyana, the best place is in one of those storied political or leisure establishments.
The key for Guyana is to utilize to the max democratic traditions and work within the democratic system to gain some inroads in one place, then some more in another. The minus sign is the force of Guyana’s political leadership that is of the palest yellow in color and broader than a barn. Yellow is the varnish of cowards. It is a huge deficit, but one that is still manageable, that which could be conquered.
One leader in the ruling clique possesses a flair for the theater, a performer who is at his best when on stage, and in full rhetorical costume. Beneath that, a vacuum exists. Barren as the Sahara or a tundra. Another leader is more of native cunning rather than truly intelligent. Some level of intelligence is there, but it is awfully narrow, and then mostly misused to mangle the Guyanese people. These are the principals elected to lead the charge for citizens to get the best out of their oil. No can do, they say.
They cower at the thought of lifting a finger. It is the vocabulary of fear, of resignation, of cleverness. Why cut nose and spoil face…. Guyanese have been kicked about so long by their political leaders that they would not recognise the difference, if a kind hand was extended to them. Think of a domestic abuse victim who has been battered day after day. The one day that she is not, the thought is that something is wrong. More humiliatingly, the fear is that the fault lies with her, something that was done. Ouch!
Thus, now that the cowardly bullies in the PPP Government need to take a stand with resourcefulness and subtlety in dealing with Exxon, they lose their nerve, and their jewels of masculinity. Why bait the tiger in his den? All Guyana is. Anything could happen, and none for the better. So why tempt the fates? Better to let one’s political adversaries self-destruct. I say again that that is the cowardly way out of the oil jam. Nip away at the heels of the Exxon giant.
Instead of contentment with bowing before, be bold and stand tall. A project slowed down. A production ramp-up delayed. An approval nitpicked to death. There are a million ways to nibble and gnaw at what bothers (hostile to local interests), and send a message to Exxon. There is seriousness on this side and it would be a mistake to deal with Guyanese in a casual and condescending manner. Of course, this is moving on the assumption that Exxon didn’t put anything in anybody’s pocket. Or that anyone had their hand stretched out. So, everyone involved is engaging in honest oil combat. Against my better judgment, I don’t say more.
The leaders of the American Civil Rights movement did not make progress against racist Southern superpowers by double-dealing and double-crossing their own people. It is why, despite numerous reversals and dilutions, the hard-earned successes of that movement and that era still count as part of the great American democratic experiment. African American movements and struggles. Before that Native American struggles amid their tribulations and vales of tears. Then the great women movement. All were conducted in circumstances where overwhelming forces were arrayed against. Little successes were eked out. Why not the same approach and persistency here? How about the identical level of heart and spirit (and perspicacity) also?
Exxon has the advantage today. It has entangled Guyanese leaders. Capture or compromise the generals and the army loses its sense of direction. Ambitious leaders lurking in the wings cannot be cut out of the same straw. Guyanese need leaders who have the courage and character, the nuance too, to test the waters, to see how far they can proceed. The Exxon croc might snap, but preparation for that contingency should already have been factored in, since there is common knowledge of its presence and those menacing attributes. Regrettably, what Guyanese have had is the opposite.
Political leaders are forever backpedaling, on the defensive, conjuring up one excuse after another, about why they shouldn’t. How about coming with something about what could be done, brothers? Life in this age of oil doesn’t have to be lived handcuffed and blindfolded and muzzled. Rather than live like that, I prefer to go my way. If ruling bigshots have any shame left in them, they would leave. They can carry away their, ah, assets, however obtained. On the house, and just get out of it. Let those who can give Exxon a run for its money try their hand