Dear Editor,
Reference your news story (SN Oct 9), the PNC Member of Parliament for Region 10, Jermaine Figueria, acted maturely and professionally and should be applauded and emulated for meeting, shaking hand with, and welcoming President Irfaan Ali to Linden. The President came bearing gifts. He should not be rebuffed by Linden or any opposition politician. That is not smart politics.
Ali is President of all of Guyana, those who supported PPP, PNC (APNU), ANUG, LJP, and other parties. He makes policies for all of Guyana. He decides on investments and development in an area. It would be unwise to reject the President and alienate Linden from the President’s plan for the area and any development goodies he brought. Figueria’s action is in sharp contrast with PNC and opposition leader, Aubrey Norton, who refused to shake hands with Ali in several face to face encounters. Norton is on record as saying he will not shake hands with his oppressor. Ali is no oppressor of Guyanese. The country is a democracy.
In order for the country to make progress, politicians of opposing parties must work together in the best interests of community development, regardless of which party controls the reins of government.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram
