Dear Editor,
Curiosity is raised on why a company from the Dominican Republic (DR) has been given contracts of billions of American dollars in Guyana’s energy sector. Guyanese are not afforded the privileges and contracts of a DR company.
The DR is not a center of learning or technology. It is not a financial center. It does not loan money to other countries. It is a debt ridden country. It cannot fund industries in other countries. It does not have an industrial base. It lacks technological capacity. It does not attract new investment. It does not produce a cup of oil. It does not refine oil.
Few foreign embassies are located there. It is a tourist haven. It is also a haven for corruption. And it is known as a narco drug haven. It serves as a transit conduit to ship Colombian drugs to North America and Europe. Some drugs also come through Venezuela to DR and Guyana. Is there a Guyana-DR drug link?
A submersible packed with cocaine was intercepted by American DEA off the coast of Guyana a few days ago. What is the source of the submersible? Where was it going? Who was going to be the recipient of the drugs? Is there a DR connection? Is there a Venezuela connection?
Given that DR lacks technological capacity and finance for major industries that we seek to build, why is our government giving it billions of American dollars in contracts? It arouses curiosity!
We read that a DR company will link up with an American company to build energy industries in Guyana. American companies are forbidden to offer bribes for contracts. There are heavy fines to companies and jail for personnel that are involved in underhand activities in contracts.
So American companies, similar to Canadian and European, don’t offer bribes to get contracts. That is why the US EXIM Bank is very tough on approving loans to Guyana for the power generating plant. The project is overpriced and EXIM Bank is not approving it.
There are no restrictions on DR companies, similar to Chinese companies, in offering heavy handshakes and incentives to officials of governments in getting contracts. Isn’t it curious why a DR company is teaming up with an American company to build energy plants in Guyana?
Why isn’t the American company building the plants all by itself? Is it because its hands are tied on offering incentives to Guyanese officials whereas the DR company has no such restriction?
Yours truly,
Edward Burrowes