Dear Editor,
Guyana now produces approximately 660,000 barrels of oil per day, and this is expected to increase to over one million barrels per day in the near future. However, in some corners of this beautiful country, some see the accelerated production as exploitation by ExxonMobil for their benefit while Guyana risks undermining its long-term economic stability.
I see things differently. I think the revenue Guyana earns from oil production should be used to create a solid foundation for Guyana’s future. As the government of the day continuously preaches, Guyana must use the revenue it earns to develop existing and create new industries. It is the only way for Guyana to create a better today for a prosperous tomorrow.
If we are paying attention, we should notice that there have been efforts to diversify the agricultural sector with the introduction of corn and soya beans. This is coupled with the use of new technology to improve agricultural production. Note this is just one area among many that can be pointed to where efforts are being made to bolster.
I am also inclined to believe that the critics are suffering from what is referred to as ‘change blindness.’ This is a cognitive phenomenon where people fail to see things that are right in front of them. Aside from private investments in hotels and malls among others, it is almost impossible to not notice the highways you drive on daily. These are developments that are happening now, benefitting Guyanese presently but also have lasting effects as every new highway opens new lands for commercial and residential use.
It is easy to sit, write, pinpoint, and highlight everything under the sun that is going wrong. However, when countered with facts, we see how baseless, the points of the critics become.
Sincerely,
Greg Lynch
