Dear Editor,
The sinking of the MV Barima (Saturday night/Sunday morning) has left our nation grieving for the lives lost and families forever changed. The country itself will find it very difficult to recover from the losses — loss of so many lives, vehicles, cargoes, the vessel itself, etc. Was everything done to save lives, to rescue the many? In moments like these, Guyanese, the world, NGOs, responsible capable private corporations expect every available resource to be mobilized in the effort to save lives. Every nearby vessel and aircraft was needed to join the rescue operations. Poor fishermen with small wooden boats went out to rescue lives. Did Exxon join the rescue effort with its helicopters?
Exxon Guyana is the only private company that has the resources, capability, and capacity to save lives during this tragedy. It operates one of the largest offshore operations in the country and has access to aviation and marine resources that support those operations. It has several helicopters that fly 200KM from Ogle to the oil location daily in multiple trips. There is also a helicopter dedicated only for search and rescue emergencies. All of the helicopters were on base at Ogle when the MV Barima tragedy was first reported. Did the government ask Exxon to assist? And even if not asked, the helicopter base would have received the distress signal. International rules mandate that it respond to emergencies. Exxon knows Guyana has limited capacity in aviation and marine operations. Did the Exxon base offer to help in the MV Barima operations? Did signal operators inform leadership of the distress signal?
The public is reminded that Exxon Guyana is funded by Guyana oil revenues in the amount of tens of billions in US dollars annually; it is a Guyana operation. All of its equipment and resources are Guyana’s. Exxon workers are paid by Guyana through Exxon from our oil revenues. They work for us. Those helicopters are ours. In effect, Guyana has command over staff and equipment, including the several helicopters. Why didn’t Exxon make available helicopters to assist if not lead the search and rescue effort of the Barima?
These are fair questions that deserve clear and transparent answers. They should not be viewed as an attack on Exxon but as part of the public accountability expected when a national tragedy occurs. Did Exxon respond unreasonably? Should it be held accountable? Shouldn’t Exxon now be led by a Guyanese?
It is important to recognize that responsibility for coordinating maritime search and rescue rests with the relevant government authorities and private sector. The public deserves to know whether Exxon Guyana was asked to provide helicopter support, whether such support was operationally feasible, and what role the company ultimately played in the emergency response.
If Exxon Guyana did everything that was reasonably possible under the circumstances, it should say so openly. If there were obstacles that prevented helicopter deployment, those should also be explained. Transparency will help dispel speculation and strengthen public confidence in the company that had been exploiting our resources and cheating Guyana of billions in US dollars annually. Right now, the public feels Exxon let Guyana down by not quickly joining rescue operations. Exxon Guyana should be held accountable — legal or operational responsibility it actually has.
The families of those who lost loved ones deserve a full account of the response from every organization involved. An independent review should examine the actions of all relevant parties — including government agencies, the ferry operator, THD, Exxon and private companies that possessed assets capable of assisting—to identify lessons that can improve Guyana’s emergency preparedness and save lives in the future. If Exxon did not act morally and even legally, it must be held liable.
This tragedy should lead not only to mourning but also to meaningful improvements in national search-and-rescue coordination, cooperation between the public and private sectors, and emergency response planning. And it is time we re-examine our relations with Exxon. It must come under local leadership.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen
