Guyanese people are being led once by their noses again, this time, by another subtle act from the Granger administration. After the PPP (in particular) has raided the wealth of Guyana’s resources – our timber, gold, diamond, lands, etc – for more than two decades. And after they have enriched themselves and their chosen cronies – some of who now occupy residency in Pradoville #2 – we are being told that oil is Guyana’s savior. After 50 years, without the mention of any oil, the world knew that Guyana was a treasure trough of mineral wealthy. Additionally, the work ethic of the masses by far surpasses the vocational aptitudes of any of our Caribbean neighbors. Yet the hardships inflicted on our people by our successive governments, have driven, and continue to drive us from our native land. Guyana does not need oil for its citizens to experience the good life now being touted as a crumbs from the masters’ table. Guyana is super wealthy with just the transparent and conscientious management of any ONE of our natural resources. Can anyone imagine how much billions of dollars were stolen by BiShal Ling and the PPP administration, in lumber alone? PPP had given BiShan Ling billions in concessions and they were shipping out (and we saw the satellite images), billions more in lumber. Now multiply that by a daily exercise and multiply it by 10-15 years and one begins to get an idea of the pilferage of billions of Guyana dollars that never got to benefit our children and grand children. The United Republic Party was told that one evening, A few years ago, on the high seas, off of Curacao, 10 Billion dollars of Guyana gold, was stolen (if you can steal from thieves) from off a Guyanese fishing boat, by bandits pretending to belong to Curacao coast guards. That is just one boat on one day. And it had 10 Billion dollars worth of our gold. Just imagine that this was happening weekly for 12-14 years. And that is why the Guyanese populace never benefited in any meanilgful way from the wealth of our minerals. The resources are being shipped out of Guyana through its back door and only the politicians and a few others are benefiting. The recourses manager, Mr. Trotman, is saying that our wealth is still hemorrhaging through the back door. He gives no plans on curtailing and stopping that massive loss of billions of dollars. Understand that the current stealing of our natural resources is mainly being undertaken by small business men who have the capacity to buy out our politicians and law enforcement officers. Yet the government is incapable of closing that loop hole. So they are admitting that our current – nonrenewable – natural resources will continue to be fleeced from our country, so that the general population will never see the true benefits of this wealthy nation. And even as they are admitting that, they are singing the praises of oil. Now it the government cannot curtail the financial hemorrhaging and corruption that is currently been perpetrated by some comparatively local and regional, ‘small fish’, how will they fend off the international likes of these oil giants? If money was and is the motivating factor for the massive corruption and loss of billions of dollars of our natural resources – over the last 30-40 years – when the stakes are higher, can the Guyanese citizenry expect any better financial management? If your answer is ‘yes’, the URP is challenging you to prove it!