The Opposition coalition, A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), said they welcome the emerging changes in the national mood and attitude since the May 3 ruling by Justice Sandil Kissoon, directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce the liability clause in Exxon Permits or risk the permit being suspended.
“The more attentive, informed, and active the citizenry in national decision-making, the more robust our democracy and the challenge to dictatorship and the safer are the protections against government corruption, incompetence, and authoritarianism.”
According to the coalition since the court ordered the EPA to enforce the liability clause in the permits issued to ExxonMobil Guyana – and the PPP’s rejection and legal challenge of the decision – we have sensed among the Guyanese people not only national outrage, but an emerging collectiveness to defend their country and its patrimony.
There is growing anxiety and vexation among citizens because they are aware of the massive scale and risks potentially involved in an oil spill and because of the brainless, reckless and conniving attitude of the PPP government towards protecting Guyana’s interest., the Opposition said.
“Guyanese know that massive oil spills can and do occur, and one such spill can wreak untold environmental and economic havoc on the country itself and the Caribbean Sea and States.”
Not only is the government refusing to accept its obligations to the people of Guyana, but it is also actively fighting to overturn the Judge’s ruling with total disregard of the fact that it is putting the country at great risk at the altar of political expediency and corporate interests, the opposition cautioned.
Accusing the government of misreading the people’s mood and reality, the coalition is contending the national interest does not have to be submerged to welcome foreign investment. Both can be pursued simultaneously given “the two are not mutually exclusive,” stated the Opposition.
“We are witnessing emerging signs that the people of Guyana have decided to stand up for their country and their birthrights. We are witnessing an awakening of greater levels of patriotism. We are witnessing a coming together of citizens across social, ethnic, and political lines to stop the sellout of the country by the PPP. We are seeing citizens calling on other citizens to defend our homeland for the present and future generations. We are seeing a gradual swell in citizens’ consciousness, interest, participation, and activism in shaping national decisions outside of merely casting a vote.”
The Opposition went further in stating they welcome the emerging changes in the national mood and attitude. “The more attentive, informed, and active the citizenry in national decision-making, the more robust our democracy and the challenge to dictatorship and the safer are the protections against government corruption, incompetence, and authoritarianism.”
Pointing out that as a political grouping they will be respectful of and responsive to the changing national mood triggered by Judge Kissoon’s ruling and the PPP’s reckless and anti-patriotic attempt to quash it, the coalition said they look forward to this potentially new turning point in Guyana’s political culture.
“The change in the political mood of the people is more significant when it is noted that there are serious allegations of bribery and corruption leveled against Second Vice President [Bharrat] Jagdeo, and the need for serious action to root out corruption at a time when there is an abundance of income from the oil and gas sector.”
Capitalising on the prevailing mood, the Opposition advised that now more than any time before, there is need for transparency and accountability, which are two concepts that elude the governance practices of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
