By GHK Lall- In 2023, Pres Ali described the Exxon contract as “lopsided”, according to Stabroek News. In 2024, Pres Ali told the New York Times that Exxon got “the better hand of the deal.” In 2026, Pres Ali traveled to the ends of the earth to Al-Jazeera, and when questioned whether his government position that that the Exxon contract is a bad deal, he was tightlipped: “yeah, we do.” He grew bold, found a kicker: it “never” was “a good deal.”
In raw terms, “lopsided” can be defined as so leaning to one side that there’s danger of capsizing. The MV Barima killed over 100 Guyanese when it capsized, with many of the destroyed still unknown. Exxon’s contract is so “lopsided” to use Ali’s own word, it has capsized and killed the hopes of Guyanese. The grievously wounded unknowns are future generations of Guyanese. When anyone declares something as lopsided, it’s clear that danger is recognized. The destructive potential of that presence is palpable. Danger threatens. Yet, there’s sitting on hands, and sword fencing taking over.
In his Al-Jazeera exchange, Ali soft-pedalled the ugliness of Exxon’s Guyana contract. It’s not “a good deal.” Lame and a shame. There is nothing good about the deal; therefore, there’s an obligation to say it unambiguously: the Exxon contract is bad, it stinks. Its stench sticks to those in Exxon who sell locals their defective goods. Exxon is a true partner to Guyanese. Then, why the resistance to sitting at the table of renegotiation?
Why even have the clause that allows such opportunity? Why leave Guyana’s president with the indignity of feeling for innocuous words that cloud the diabolical machinations behind the contract? Why compel to make an international spectacle of himself (and Guyanese) with his shifting to evade lashing the Exxon contract as a noose around Guyanese necks. The Exxon men from Texas should know noose. It lynches this country and its peoples.
Exxon had the “better hand of the deal” was what Dr. Ali told the New York Times. The PPP used to rail and rage against the Exxon contract. But its conversion to Exxon religion has its leaders, like Mr. Ali, soft-soaping and sugarcoating and sweetly sanitizing the same contract that they had damned as among the worst ever.
It is a giveaway when leaders start using wimp language, begin adopting limp postures, with a document they had denounced before as a horror to nation and nationals. The Exxon contract is healthy or deadly for Guyanese. It’s fair or it’s foul for Guyanese. It is right or should be kicked out of sight for Guyanese. None of this touchy-feely lavender-like language that is about don’t upset Exxon whatever is said or done. Also, be careful who it is said to, and how.
When a leader has lost the national script, he or she has lost utility. When a leader has lost his way, only to relocate himself on the side of predators, then its time that Guyanese see him for who he is and give up on him. When Ali speaks as he does, and slides as he does, it is as if Lords Alistair Routledge and Darren Woods operate as de facto presidents of Guyana.
Except that they have the smarts to use Excellency Ali as their proxy, and speak through him. It’s more than a public partnership. It’s a public twin. Might be more accurate to name that a public triplet. All for one, and one for all. Hence, a contract that is bad on its face (a deformity from deformed minds), bad in its character (vile and depraved), and bad in its objectives (to strangle the Guyanese people) survives and grows in strength. Thanks to wishy-words, slack mouthed jawing, and still claiming the mantle of being for Guyanese. Lopsided is many-sided, all of them treacherous.
