The recent legal action taken by civil society against the government of Guyana has been praised by the Opposition, who accuse Bharrat Jagdeo of violating the country’s laws. According to the Opposition, Jagdeo has removed all semblance of patriotism and is willing to fabricate issues to be able to sell the country’s national patrimony.
While the Opposition welcomes investment, they believe that the government must understand that pursuing the interests of the people of Guyana and welcoming investment are not mutually exclusive. The recent comments made by the Second Vice President, who intervened in the judicial realm and suggested that judges should make predictable decisions, are particularly concerning. The Opposition argues that the role of the judge is to follow the law, and the response of Jagdeo and the PPP to the ruling is a clear indication that they do not believe in the rule of law and democracy, instead practicing authoritarianism.
The Opposition also criticized Jagdeo’s understanding of the Unlimited Parent Company Guarantee agreement, claiming that he confuses it with insurance coverage. They argue that the agreement is simply a guarantee from the parent company, Exxon Mobil, that they will cover the cost over and above the insured value if a spill or other disaster occurs. The Opposition claims that Jagdeo’s comments are foolhardy and deceitful and demonstrate that he is either dumb, insane, uncaring, or just a barefaced fabricator who develops his own narrative to browbeat the people of Guyana.
The legal requirement as written into the permit mandates that Exxon Mobil covers “any” and “all” costs for the cleanup and restoration in the event of an oil spill “if EEPGL fails to do so” due to its limited resources. The Opposition claims that the recent ruling had nothing to do with Jagdeo’s “unlimited insurance” but was about the parent company guarantee agreement.
The Opposition urges Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP not to appeal this ruling, claiming that to do so is a waste of taxpayers’ money and an appeal against the country’s environmental laws, as well as against the safety and health of its people. They argue that to appeal this case is further confirmation that Jagdeo and the PPP serve only their elite, friends, families, and favorites, and do not care about the people of Guyana.
