HGP Nightly News Reports | Dorwain Bess, Chairman of the Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC), is appealing to President Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana to restore his fuel import licence, emphasizing the values of fairness and due process. In a letter addressed to the government, Bess argues that the appeal for investment from the Guyanese diaspora should be inclusive of everyone, including him.
Bess’s licence was revoked following a change in government, which he claims effectively excluded him from the fuel industry he played a significant role in developing. He returned from the United States to invest in Guyana, establishing a fuel business that reportedly employed hundreds and comprised a substantial portion of his assets.
More than five years later, Bess asserts he remains sidelined while new fuel licences have been granted to others, some of whom, he notes, are politically connected individuals, including a sitting government minister now operating a gas station. He pointed out that some licensed companies have yet to commence operations.
Highlighting President Ali’s renewed call for diaspora engagement and investment, Bess stated, “That invitation must include everyone, not just the well-connected.” He insists he is not asking for special treatment, but rather for equal treatment under the law.
Bess stresses that no court has found him guilty of any wrongdoing. “You cannot lock people out of their livelihoods forever, especially when there has been no finding of guilt,” he remarked, indicating that the democratic principles of Guyana should support citizens rather than punish them indefinitely without charges or convictions.
He is now requesting direct intervention from the President and Vice President to restore his licence, enabling him to resume operations, rehire Guyanese workers, and contribute once more to the economy.
Bess has also distributed copies of his appeal to various organizations, including the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Guyana-American Chamber of Commerce, and the Private Sector Commission, among others.
At its core, Bess asserts that this issue transcends a mere licence; it is fundamentally about trust, fairness, and whether Guyana’s call for investment genuinely embraces all Guyanese, both at home and abroad.
