Dear Editor,
The more I read statements attributed to President Ali, the less impressed I am by his idea of what is the essence of the presidency. The more frequently I am forced to absorb a snippet of Ali in full-throated Enrico Caruso (or Pradeep Kumar) crescendo, the more I reel and say to myself that this cannot be what this country and citizens have as the bright apex of their presidency. Some simple, direct words to President Ali are worth a try, have their merits. There are enormous benefits in practicing calmness in comportment (and communications). It is not well to be so agitated on every occasion, particularly during those when the reception is less than rapturous. A moment of introspection, of deep self-examination and reflection, is invaluable. I daresay, sire, that it makes for a better president and a much better presidency.
Communications. I am told that there is an art to it. Maybe so, maybe not. More science, but definitely some structure, with a dash of that art helps to convey messages that make listeners pay attention, ponder at length. It doesn’t have to be the equivalent of verbal fireworks. Every appearance before the microphone does not have to spiral (or decline) to an Old Year’s Nite moment of uncontrolled revelry. Jumping on a chair, pounding on the table, and carrying on at high decibels, Mr. President, is most un-presidential. A calm word makes many a storm reverse course.
One of my greatest regrets is that President Ali and former president Jagdeo came to their fullest flower of power after that quality of schooling and attention to grooming had had its day. At times, when I hear President Ali in full flow, I find myself offering a silent prayer: no, Mr. President, don’t loosen that tie, and please don’t yank off shirt and get ready to get down in the dirt. In observing President Ali in action, I have this flashback to one of those old Westerns such as Shane (Alan Ladd) or Warlock (Richard Widmark) where a brawl for the ages was about to take center stage. That may be exciting for the big movie screen, but real life is not a motion picture, and the presidency of Guyana is not the product of some screenwriter’s craftsmanship. I elaborate.
There are three areas randomly selected to emphasize to President Ali that he is going about leadership poorly. Corruption is chronic and is killing this country. Yet, in Ali, there is this thunder about how much his government has been with transparency and accountability. Which government, Mr. President? When in the last four years, master? If there is the accountability, then why are those damn Yankees intercepting, escorting, detaining, and questioning Guyanese with different close relationships to him and his government? Why is the seizing of instruments and dubious escorting of people now almost an expected part of the United States Government’s JFK welcoming committee? For people high in his government.
Second, if there was true accountability, then those all-but-forgotten major overseas drug hauls would not have occurred. Nor the talk of a “network of corruption” (damn Yankees again) have any grounds. The president should know that when he strikes high notes about corruption, none of that drowns out the whispers involving his government at very senior levels. I have just pointed to the writing on the wall, he and his people should be able to read the names on it. Now, that is where transparency lives, and there are neither secrets nor many government names exempted. I know one thing with absolute certainty: my name is not there nor anywhere for anything. Ali and Jagdeo know that but can’t help themselves. When their people go low, I go high. Straight at the two of them (and Nandlall).
Third, President Ali reduces his presidency to the cheap and tawdry when his message must be spiced up with reference to the PNC. Take out the PNC and the president and vice president becomes insecure and uncertain about the strength and credibility of their messages. To give life to their pronouncements and programs, the PNC is compulsory. Leave out the PNC, and President Ali’s message is flat, suffers from flatulence, sounds frivolous. My word of humble counsel to Guyana’s head of state is that he always keeps his head on. He must be confident that his PPP Government can stand on its own feet without the orthopedic mechanics of the PNC needed to proceed.
Last, I have some bad news for President Ali. It is said that some people can be fooled some of the time, and not all of them all the time. I regret to inform him that things are at such a deplorable and unpardonable state in Guyana under his watch that none of the people is fooled none of the time. Even PPP diehards have their hair and pants on fire things are so bad. He could decide if to pass this memo onto Jagdeo. The presidency has its own dignity about it. Please don’t desecrate it further. Be controlled. Be cool.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
