Given its belief that the APNU+AFC has a poor track record on improving the lives of Guyanese, the PPP/C Government only saw the political opposition’s motion for there to be a special land policy for shore bases as part of its plan to derail development and deceive the populace. As a result, the government voted against the motion last evening.
The motion was first brought before the House in March by Shadow Minister for the Oil Sector, David Patterson to have the government establish a multi-agency task force to prepare a land-use policy specifically for the location of the shore bases to come and present its report to the House within six months.
The motion which was seconded by APNU’s MP, Christopher Jones, also called for the Government to advise the task force that it is the preference of the National Assembly for future onshore bases be in the counties of Berbice and Essequibo to ensure parity in the development of the oil and gas industry and the equitable development across Guyana for the benefit of all citizens.
Whilst it is recognized that additional shore bases are needed as Guyana only has one at the moment in the form of the Guyana Shore Base Inc., Patterson said via his motion that these facilities must be developed as part of a macro-development plan and not be solely driven by oil sector demand forces.
It should be noted that the Guyana Shore Base Inc. was originally a commercial container terminal, which was repurposed to serve the emerging oil and gas sector. It is located on the Demerara River, which is the busiest river in the country responsible for almost 90% of the containerized Furthermore, the businesses now serving the oil and gas sector are primarily located in Houston, East Bank Demerara. However, this location was zoned as residential by the Central Housing and Planning Authority.
It should be noted as well that the country’s prime oil and gas sector is located between two large residential communities (Ruimveldt and McDoom), and the increased activities have caused a buildup of traffic and other encumbrances, which are a constant inconvenience to the residents and travelers. It is with this understanding in mind that Patterson urged the government to support his motion so that the same error would not be repeated.
The PPP/C members however did not see the motion as worthy of consideration as several speakers deemed it to be pointless and visionless.
Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill during his contribution on the motion said that at face value, it appears that the parliamentary document holds a noble intention. But after hearing the explanations from Patterson regarding the mistakes his government made which led to the shore base issues in the first place, it is clear that Patterson, and the opposition by extension, cannot be trusted.
Edghill said the public must not forget that it was the very opposition which during its time in office, had failed to disclose the US$18M signing bonus that was collected from ExxonMobil.
What is even more important said Edghill is the fact that Patterson who shared responsibility for the oil sector during his time as Minister, did nothing to rectify the issues he is now referring to. Edghill, therefore, concluded that his colleague’s motion was just another case of “sanctimonious gangsterism.”
Also in support of his position was Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat who wasted no time in reminding the House of the failures of the APNU+AFC regime in setting a strong foundation that would allow for the effective management of the oil sector. He made it clear that the government does not need the Opposition to explain what it already knows while adding that the PPP/C has a clear plan to ensure proper regulation of not just shore bases but every other aspect of the sector.
He said too that unlike what characterized the reign of the APNU+AFC, the PPP/C’s time in office will be underpinned by transparency and accountability.
Presenting perhaps the strongest arguments that shattered the glass base of Patterson’s motion were those presented by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh. The Parliamentarian, like his colleagues, was flabbergasted that Patterson who forms part of the current incarnation of the APNU+AFC, had the nerve to approach the house with a motion on a special land policy since he and his party members displayed zero interest in this matter while in office.
Dr. Singh said the House ought to be reminded that a special land policy for the oil sector was never part of the APNU+AFC manifesto promises nor did they seek to have one while in government. Instead, Dr. Singh said the APNU+AFC was interested in an excursion of frivolity that left behind disrepair, disgrace, corruption, and buildings and fences painted in a sea of green.
But what clearly demonstrates yet again, the ineptitude of the Opposition is the very purpose of the motion that was brought by Patterson expressed Dr. Singh. He noted that by definition, a land policy cannot focus on a particular sector as there are competing and complementary uses for land that have to be considered holistically. He said there must be careful consideration of connectivity, industrial and commercial use of land, urbanization and population location, energy supply, among other factors hence a special policy for one sector is essentially a most misguided approach.
Further to this, the Senior Minister said that the Opposition Member and his party can only be seen as shedding “crocodile tears” when one considers one of the motion’s resolutions to have shore bases in every county. He said the House should not forget that it was the same party that callously put more than 20,000 sugar workers on the breadline in Berbice.
Considering these and other points, the Finance Minister said it is clear that the Opposition is now “pampazetting itself in this Honourable House.”
Following the contributions from Dr. Singh and others, the motion was put to a vote, the results of which was 33 members against and 31 members for.
Around 11: 35 pm, the Speaker of the House, Manzoor Nadir then adjourned the sitting of the National Assembly to Monday, June 14.
