The Exxon contract -from Exxon’s side

 The Exxon contract -from Exxon’s side

OPINION BY: GHK LALL September 2026

Personal message of condolence to CEO Woods and Country Chief Routledge.  Regrets about the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans (liked Houston Oilers better, more fitting).  Congrats on the Texas Longhorns.  Now it’s time for business.

Unprecedented revenue stream.  A contract that’s great for Guyana.  An American partner that’s the best for Guyana.  Guyana has the best governance for its wealth. 

Crown jewel wealth.  Rah-rah-rah!  It’s enough to make even the stonehearted and hard edged (like me) weep.  But there must be admission that Exxon’s chiefs have painted a sweet picture about Guyana, and how much of a liberator and savior it has been to Guyanese.  Now the contradictions and sourness enter the frame.

First question for Guyanese to ponder: ever encounter a partner that slams the door in the face of another partner, but still insist on calling itself the best partner, bar none?  When the issue creeping its way to the table is contract renegotiation, Exxon says No way!  Not today.  Not any day.  Not while the name is Woods and Routledge.  Meanwhile, the Guyana side of the partnership curls itself in a ball and rolls happily along.  Why cause strife and stress?  A few billion more isn’t worth it.  The man who fancies himself as a Guyanese Douglas MacArthur, is suddenly heading for the hills.  With an adversary like that across the room (one fearful of even mentioning the discussion table), why should Exxon budge one inch?  If there isn’t the testicular fortitude in Guyana’s dressing room, why should Exxon be ready, willing, and easy?

More importantly for the thrust of this writing, having taken the measure of Guyana’s PPP Govt, why should Exxon surrender one percentage point more in royalty?  Or any percent for income taxes?  Or anything that resembles ringfencing future oil projects?  If Guyana is not hungry enough, angry enough, and impatient enough to force those issues, it is not in Exxon’s interests, therefore, to be the Oil Industry’s Mother Teresa.  Which company, oil or garbage, is so stupid to foist a losing proposition on its own head?

Now, I enlighten Guyanese about Americans.  Of course, they want a free ride; or the least cost solution.  But they have grudging respect for a battler that refuses to go down, without a fight.  Without the last drop of oxygen exhausted.  On the other hand, Americans reserve their sharpest contempt for the yellow bellied, fainthearted, and pale of spirit.  In sum, cowards are held in special disdain.  Exxon gets what it craves, but when it’s a walkover, the battle doesn’t make it into even a footnote in the record books.  Such has been the case with Guyana and its oil. 

Guyana has been a pushover.  Guyana has been a rollover and the equivalent of go ahead, have way with me.  Take what is desired; whatever is left is left.

Who respect someone like that, when the going is so easy?  Why give anything to people who don’t want to go to the mat for what belongs to them?  Ever see a whimpering dog, with its tail stuck between its legs, and retreating from any heat?  Exxon sees Guyana and Guyana governments that way.  Therefore, Exxon should be recognized, no matter how detested, for not even deigning to be around the same table with Guyana when renegotiation of its contract is involved.  Whoever wants to do something about it must be man enough to fight for it.  Of course, the public relations side of the Exxon-Guyana partnership still has to be sold to keep the charade going. 

Right governance.  Right leadership.  Right environment.  Right attitude.  In each one of these instances, there’s a word that fits neatly.  Subservient.

Subservient is the body language of penitents and the penniless.  Guyana is among the best at the former, and loves the latter.  Such folks do not deserve one dime more.  No matter how much there may be an opening for such. 

Guyana gets some guts, and the game could change.  Guyanese could fight to the death for elections.  But deh frikken fuh fight Exxon fuh de dignity and prosperity.