Opinion
This distribution between EEPGL and Guyana is palpably inequitable and it must be changed now
Dear Editor, Reference is made to your article captioned ‘Exxon’s subsidiary registered $577b profit in 2022’ (SN 6/18/23) and I would like to make a few observations. First, the published data in this and another article (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2023/03/09/the-average-cost-per-barrel-of-oil-produced-by-exxon-is-questionable-unacceptable/). show that EEPGL has been able to extract a total of 168.8 million barrels of oil during…
Judge Rishi Persaud does not seem to understand the crucial issue in this case
Dear Editor, From your lead article on Justice Rishi Persaud’s ruling on the matter of the Appeal against the lower court Judge Sandil Kissoon’s order requiring Exxon to provide unlimited PCG, I read as follows (SN June 9th): Justice Rishi Persaud ordered: “. . . [Exxon] to lodge US$2 billion in guarantees within the next…
A PCG is simply a letter on Exxon’s letterhead promising to pay the cost in the event of an oil spill
I refer to Robin Singh’s letter in SN of May 24th titled: “An unlimited parent guarantee must be backed by an asset register”, and wish to respond as follows: Robin Singh argues, “it must be backed by an asset register, all of which would then be under lien and would require Guyana’s assent for any…
Guyana would be left to foot costs of over US$20B yearly compensating Caribbean islands for an oil spill – Environmental activist, Janette Bulkhan
Kaieteur News – Pre-pandemic statistics available for 10 Caribbean islands that can be affected by a devastating spill in the Stabroek Block shows that Guyana would have to foot costs of over US$20 Billion a year for affecting the beaches these countries rely largely on for tourism. This point was shared by activist, Janette Bulkhan in…
Compensatory claims by our Caribbean island friends for oiled beaches would bankrupt Guyana
Our angelic lawyers and appellate judges are debating in medieval terms whether ‘assurance’ or ‘insurance’ or ‘full liability coverage’ or ‘complete indemnity’ can all sit on the head of a pin. Meanwhile, let us consider why we need such security instruments. Since the PEMEX oil spill at the Ixtoc-I well in the Gulf of Campeche…
ExxonMobil argues that shareholders should reject resolution #10 because it contains dubious claims
Dear Editor, ExxonMobil will have its annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday May 31st, 2023. During this meeting, shareholders will vote on a number of resolutions raised. These resolutions were outlined in its 2023 Proxy statement, a copy can be found here: https://investor.exxonmobil.com/company-information/annual-reports-proxy. Shareholder resolution #10 is concerned with Guyana and seeks additional reporting on worst-case spill…
We urge ExxonMobil shareholders to vote in favour of resolution #14 on environment-related litigation
Dear Editor, In a shareholder document released on April 13th, 2023 ExxonMobil makes this claim, “ExxonMobil’s affiliate [EEPGL] works cooperatively with the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure environmental permitting relating to exploration, development, and production activity fully complies with Guyana law.” It states, “…activist litigation to halt oil and gas production has failed…
Insurance Is Not Assurance
Dear Editor, In recent letters to the press, Robin Singh, a person who is yet to apologise for publicly labelling me and some members of civil society treasonous, is peddling more illogic. He seems to have now awakened to the concept of ‘unlimited’, as in parent company guarantee (PCG). It was already there to be…
Recall all dorms construction bids and revise to exclude inflammable materials
Dear Editor,Your editorial of 24 May (Mahdia tragedy, https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/05/24/opinion/editorial/mahdia-tragedy/) on the horrific deaths of 19 children in a dormitory fire on Sunday night (and other children who are seriously burnt, all the children scarred for life) reminded us of the government’s serial failures to learn from the earlier deaths of three schoolgirls in Waramadong Secondary School…
We demand a parent company guarantee from Exxon
Dear Editor,We reflect on the risks involved as ExxonMobil drills through ~2,000 metres of water (>1 mile) and ~3,700 metres (> 2 miles) of rock to get to the petroleum and associated gas located under the weight of such pressure in Guyana’s offshore territory. We note that the increase in daily production to 155,000 barrels per…