‘Black gold’ a blessing or curse?

Poverty-striken: A general view of the Staatsolie refinery owned by Suriname State Oil Company. South American neighbours Guyana and Suriname say they have no choice but to cash in as potential oil powers while they can. — AFP

PARAMARIBO (SURINAME): Emerging as potential oil powers while the world seeks to wean itself off planet-warming fossil fuels, poverty-stricken South American neighbours Guyana and Suriname say they have to cash in while they can.

The former Dutch colonies are among the world’s most tree-covered countries, hosts to the so-called forest “lungs” that sequester massive amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide.Their economies and populations small, the countries have traditionally emitted little CO2 or other greenhouse gasses from fossil fuel use – in fact Suriname is one of only three carbon-negative countries in the world and Guyana claims carbon neutrality.