Shake my hand: President Irfaan Ali (right) and Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton shaking hands at last Thursday night’s birthday reception for Queen Elizabeth, held at the residence of the British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller. Present at the event were a number of government ministers, members of the opposition and parliamentarians from both sides. Urging Norton, who initially snubbed the request for a handshake to put aside their differences, Ali said that as mature adults there should be no place for “pettiness”. “He did not want to shake my hand but I have no place for pettiness. This is a social forum… so I told him ‘Shake my hand. We are mature people,” Ali told Stabroek News afterward. Ali made rounds and interacted with persons and also took photos at the function. Norton was selective in his choice of interactions, while other members of the opposition, including APNU+AFC members Khemraj Ramjattan, David Patterson and Roysdale Forde shook hands and chatted with Ali along with government ministers and parliamentarians. (Office of the President photos)
