Dear Editor,
Further to ExxonMobil (XOM) Guyana’s Media and Communications Manager’s “We remain committed to our partnership with the people and government of Guyana as we continue to responsibly develop the country’s oil and gas resources. ExxonMobil Guyana welcomes dialogue and discussions of the oil and gas industry, and our operations in particular, based on fact and mutual respect”, I write.
From in or around 11 May 2022 when the President of XOM put my initial communication for postponement of the Public Consultations for the EIA/EIS for the GtE (Gas to Energy) pipeline into the Stakeholder Community Grievance Mechanism (CGM), as stated on the email with his response, my request for information has remained in the deep dead silence of the black hole of both the unacknowledged and unanswered realms. These questions started by asking on what basis was the EIA/EIS for the GtE pipeline project conducted if the route was “only potential” and to date remains in such potentiality (land has not been acquired), through asking for the rules which govern the CGM into insurance policies for the GtE pipeline project from authorized preparatory works stage through to its operation. Even the request for innocuous information such as the Administrative Chart for XOM Guyana has fallen into those realms. Prima facie it appears that the fan-fared launch of the CGM may be where the intent to engage in “meaningful stakeholder engagement and “respect for Guyanese opinions and concerns”, ended.
As stated at the Umana Yana Public consultation for the GtE pipeline project, a written copy of my statement dropped into the suggestion box on 19 May 2022, I have no issues with pipelines. My issues were at that time with process and procedure of the EIA/EIS pipeline submissions and the public consultations after those submission. However, now those concerns have exponentially grown to the process and procedure of the implementation of the proposed GtE pipeline project. Makes me wonder if this offers insight into how, the stated at Uraru’s scoping, new cumulative effect factor may work? To date my concerns under CGM in relation to this project addressed to the President, the Environmental, Regulatory and Socioeconomic Manager and most recently to the Media and Communications Manager have all fallen deeply probably deeper than wells of Liza 1 &2 into the black hole of silence.
Does the CGM serve the Guyanese people or just XOM’s CSR?
Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth Deane-Hughes
