By GHK Lall- What could someone as American as Mr. Alistair Routledge, Exxon’s Guyana grandmaster, have to do with Rome and Romans? Plenty, I assure all in this enslaved Republic. It has been a long-held standard: when in Rome do as the Romans do. Remember that one? Hang on to it, ready fir a closer look. The focus will be on barrels and leadership. Leadership, not dictatorship, please take note.
An official report said that Exxon made three new oil discoveries in Guyana’s Stabroek Block in 2025. Yes, right here and right in this year, wending its last days to wherever expired years go. Three discoveries not in the Permian Basin, down home in Texas and its neighbors; but right here in the Stabroek Basin in Guyana and its extended acreage.
And, Mr. Alistair Routledge, the man in complete control of Oil Guyana, couldn’t even deign to look down his nose, however condescendingly, and inform the natives of Guyana: folks, Guyanese are now the proud owners of three new oil discoveries. Exxon did clean its hands, through reporting to the Guyana Govt, and that was it.
How can Mr. Routledge, a man who previously announced exclusive oil scoops, through expansive media disclosures, now be so deficient in reporting to the Guyanese people? He can be excused for being amnesiac, but I draw the line when he puts a sack over Guyanese heads relative to new oil discoveries. Three new ones, according to the Bank of Guyana (BoG), mid-year report, and Mr. Routledge didn’t say a word. Why, sir?
Why, is what I want to know. Forget about me, a nobody, but there are 800,000 Guyanese who this oil belongs to, and they would be happy to know. More cash grants now possible, perhaps. Some new roads and bridges, definitely. The possibilities are endless. Oh, and by the way, Mr. Routledge: what about those other eight discoveries that came before, and on which silence reigns relative to how many new barrels found.
I return to the beginning. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And what do domestic Romans do, the Guyanese Caesars converted to Roman mandarins and pontifex maximi? They withhold information. They thwart access to information. They attack those who seek information. Like how many new oil discoveries, only to be informed now that there are 11. Like how many new barrels in those 11 discoveries, only for it to be shoved down Guyanese throats that there isn’t a drop of the precious liquid black gold reported in those finds. Yet somehow, in Exxon’s books, and the BoG report, they mysteriously qualify as new oil discoveries. Three recently, eight before.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I make room for Mr. Alistair Routledge, Exxon’s American Caesar in Guyana. Space is made for any refinement of the discovery narratives, anything specific re the barrels involved in those 11 discoveries. Mr. Routledge was dispatched here, like some missionary, to teach the primitives a lesson, with his instructions clear: draw the line, hold the line, and walk the same line. No weak, shaky Rod Henson is he. He has done exceedingly well.
Almost a dozen oil discoveries, but not even a dozen barrels of oil to increase that 11 billion on the books. I like creativity. I dislike when people think that Guyanese have earned first prize for stupidity. Now poor natives must deal with ‘viability threshold.’ Translation: oil found, commercially unfeasible. Why not say so, sir, like before? When Guyanese were informed?
What is going on at the top between Exxon Guyana and the Guyana Government? A collaboration, so that discovery information is withheld, then slid past citizens, through dense BoG mid-year reports, which the commonfolk don’t read, or care to read. How is it that a man of such world-class caliber allowed himself to be drawn into Guyana’s stink and dutty way of life? Or is it, the other way around, where the dirty PPP Govt finds itself helplessly sucked into tricky Exxon’s orbit? Know something, report nothing. Ah, sanctity of contract makes a perfect jackass of the primacy of sovereignty. Sanctity of contract has an unwritten clause in it -abject surrender of leaders. Brainless, spineless, gutless, surrender of leaders.
Hence, Mr. Routledge reaps. Mr. Routledge reports. All quiet and under control on the Guyana Front. More discoveries, same silence to ordinary Guyanese -no new oil barrels. He used to announce before. Now, it has to be buried in the BoG report. Exxon’s duty done. It’s Exxon new idea about partnering with Guyana and what passes for oil transparency here. If discoveries have to be treated like a secret paramour, Mr. Routledge, then I question how much more is likely kept secret.
Happy Thanksgiving, Mr. Routledge.
