Jul 02, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

(Kaieteur News) – Exxon hires the smartest. Only the best. Its Guyana Country Head, Mr. Alistair Routledge, passed the test. When he felt the heat, he beat a hasty retreat. Into the shadows. A teacher. A watcher. Enter, Exxon’s Vice President and Business Services Manager, Mr. John Colling. A super spinner. A master obfuscator. A now proven first-rate vacillator. Guyanese thought they were getting an inspiring partner in Exxon, a different [oil] Big Brother. Wrong twice. Instead of a partner, they got a spinner. In place of a true Big Brother, they got an undertaker. Guyanese get carried out feet first, without their boots on. Bootlessness; especially politicians. Less weight when running from dealing with Exxon faceup, straight up.

In Mr. Colling, there’s good news and bad news. The good news: they hear a sweet, sad story. The bad news: Guyanese are paying for it. Spin doctors like Mr. Colling don’t come cheap. I must listen to him to detect if there’s that good ole Texas drawl to put locals to sleep. Then make rings around them. He has become very practiced at that, since Mr. Rouledge rolled out Exxon’s latest secret weapon. Asked about the cost of Exxon’s High Command skyscraper, and the usually overflowing Mr. Colling could only say it’s “appropriate.” Exxon teaches them well. In its Country Head, Mr. Routledge, there’s a leader who came to Rome and started doing as the Romas do. Thanks to Guyana’s domestic dancing masters, the Ali-Jagdeo Duo, Exxon’s Routledge and Colling have become skilled at one-liners and one-worders.