ExxonMobil confronted by anti-oil activists in Guyana, as they question oil's solution-providing capabilities for the nation's economy
In the heart of South America, Guyana is gearing up for a general election on September 1st, with the ruling PPP party and the main opposition party, the APNU, vying for power. Amidst this political turmoil, environmental activists and advocates for the Guyanese people's rights are making their voices heard.
Vanda Radzik, an environmental campaigner, recently won a case against the handling of hazardous waste by the government. The ruling, however, was appealed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a temporary stay was issued, requiring ExxonMobil to put up a $2 billion guarantee until the appeal was heard. Radzik's fight is not new; she has also brought cases against the EPA regarding environmental impact assessments, the transfer of natural gas, and the handling of hazardous waste.
Simultaneously, Sherlina Nageer, the founder of the Greenheart Movement, is using Walter Rodney's "groundings" methodology to engage the Guyanese public in advocating for more sustainable living. Nageer and two other women took a lawsuit against the EPA in 2022, claiming it acted unlawfully when it modified an environmental permit to allow the controversial practice of gas flaring.
The oil industry's presence in Guyana, particularly ExxonMobil, has been a contentious issue. ExxonMobil's oil discovery off the coast of Guyana in 2015 gave Fred Collins' role a new dimension. Collins, a long-time advocate for oil and gas issues, expressed concern about the future of these issues and the need for younger generations to continue advocating for change. Collins and Radzik believe that the oil in Guyana belongs to the Guyanese people, not Exxon or the government.
Collins, who served as the director of Transparency International in Guyana from 2013, and fellow citizen Godfrey Whyte achieved a landmark ruling in 2023 against the EPA for failing to secure a guarantee from ExxonMobil that the company would cover oil spill costs. However, there are no relevant search results specifying the main tasks or location of Transparency International in Guyana during Collins' government.
Collins, often referred to as "the usual suspects" by those who oppose his advocacy, was familiar with the impact of oil on places like the Niger Delta and Venezuela. He believes that the oil industry's visibility in Guyana through initiatives like the Greater Guyana Initiative is a "big greenwash."
Nageer and others who advocate for the environment are often labeled as "the lunatic fringe" and receive disparaging remarks. However, Nageer says people must question the narrative that progress is an upward, linear thing and consider what they might be losing in the pursuit of progress and development. She believes she is on the right side of history.
The production-sharing agreement between ExxonMobil and its partners in Guyana favors the companies, with Guyana's total take being only 14.5%. As Guyana moves towards its election, the voices of Radzik, Nageer, and others like them are a reminder that the pursuit of progress must be balanced with the protection of the environment and the rights of the people.
This reporting was supported by the Simon Cumbers Media Fund.
