After not holding a press conference for months, President Irfaan Ali convened one yesterday and spent 78 minutes speaking on various sectors of the economy while periodically lecturing reporters.
He eventually took questions for 50 minutes. Media houses were limited to one question and a follow-up.
After the first round of questions, the moderator Kit Nascimento informed that the press conference had concluded.
During the press conference, Ali stated that he has been accessible to the media and every opportunity he has, he interacts and engages with the media.
“I have to be honest; it is unfortunate for the media to say they don’t see me. Every single opportunity I have an engagement and the media comes to me I speak with them I spend a lot of time with the media…” he stressed.
But when Guyana Press Association President (GPA), Nazima Raghubir, commented that it was the dedicated press engagements that were lacking, Ali said it is the availability of the President and the media.
While the President pointed out that he is always approached by journalists on the sidelines of events, it must be noted that when questions are asked, they are not always answered.
During the commissioning of the Good Hope Secondary School when journalists from Stabroek News and Kaieteur News approached Ali, he stated that he was not in a position to take questions. At the time, he said he had another engagement.
Ali made the point that time and time management are very important in the working world. The country, he said is at a stage where every second is important and he would “love to spend time with the media every week,” but time does not permit.
It is unclear why if time was so limited he spent 78 minutes speaking about what he wanted to rather than taking more questions.
He stated that a new work culture must be developed and everyone must adjust to that.
“You have to understand [that] society and environment evolve… the economy is complex now; you have to read multiple documents… you have to stay on top of your game. It doesn’t happen by guess work,” he posited.
