The Presidency and Ali - my recommendation

The Presidency and Ali – my recommendation

Jun 10, 2025 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

Hard Truths…

By GHK Lall

Kaieteur News – Chartered Accountant and attorney-at-law, Chis Ram presented a masterpiece titled “Presidency has been diminished by Mr. Ali and he ought not to be re-elected” (SN June 8-2025). It is powerful, revealing, penetrating. It’s a work of pain that strips Mohamed Irfaan Ali of whatever fig leaf he may have had left, behind which he shelters.

The more he shelters, the more he exposes himself. If there is one weakness in Mr. Ram’s work, it’s that he’s too kind. He ought not to have placed that decision, however well-intended, to the electorate. That is, to vote or not vote for Ali. Spare those citizens. Or, to General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP brain trust. I remove from their hands. Because of the odors that Dr. Ali heaped on his own head from allegations related to Lamborghini Gate, Tax-gate, and WhatsApp Gate he should do the honorable thing. President Mohamed Irfaan Ali should resign immediately. He must give himself an opportunity to salvage himself.

Go quietly, sensibly, decently into the sunset, Pres. Ali. Leave, Mr. Ali, at midday, and let that last ray of sunlight thin this darkness that hangs over the head, haunts every word, dogs every step, taints every observation of what the presidency of Guyana has been dragged into, as though it is some mutilated carcass. How the highest office in Guyana has now been almost irreparably fouled by the works of his own hand (as alleged), through which (again, as alleged) Mr. Ali hurled himself seemingly so casually, so thoughtlessly, so recklessly. Resigning would be the gracious thing for Mr. Ali to do.

Note that I am now repeatedly referring to Mohamed Irfaan Ali as Mr. Ali. Not Excellency Ali, as is my wont. Not Pres. Ali, as is my standing practice. This is despite my grave concerns over some of his failures in the capacities of chief magistrate, chief proconsul, and chief senator in this Republic. All those egregious failures, so clouded in presidential doubletalk.

I name some only. Sanctity of contract (an abscessed tooth that has exploded, spilled pus over all Guyanese). Politically motivated (and for what, but what the law allows access to, for the transparency and accountability that he so solemnly promised). Is this man’s, this national leader’s word given, not worth anything? Some tiny peg on which Guyanese can place their trust? Something that pushes me to that summit aspired to, be motivated to say I believe. I trust. Therefore, give a chance. Let there be the space for making good, for justifying confidence vested.

It is Mr. Ali, not due to any speck of disrespect for the office of the presidency, but in recognition of the low road that he has made his own in the time of his occupation of that hallowed chamber. Go graciously, Mr. Ali. Do not add further stain on Guyana by staying one moment longer. There is already too much blemish to share universally, with plenty left over. Don’t leave that burden to the Guyanese voter. Don’t put them to that test. Resign now, sir. Just as I had recommended to then Pres. David Arthur Granger in the throes of the 2020 elections fiascoes, I so recommend to Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Vacate the presidency, sir. Go graciously. It has been besmirched enough. Let no further danger, let no more acrimony, let not one morsel of the questionable, the unbecoming, the dubious and degrading be done to, be associated with, Guyana’s most visible office, its most treasured institution.

I will be the first to say that when the hour so demanded, when the confluence of circumstances was all arrayed against him, Mohamed Irfaan Ali stood at his tallest, rose to his noblest height, and left the presidency of his own volition, through the power of his own mind, one that still held one scintilla of self-respect for the Guyanese people. And for his own dignity. If not, how can he ever be trusted again? If not, what savagery will he wreak on the presidency that would be seemingly so dear to him? No office, no standing, no duty is so extraordinarily precious that it cannot be separated from, particularly when it has been so poisoned by one’s own hand.

Hear me this once, Dr. Ali. I give the courtesy of that prefix. But in the temper of circumstances, even that now becomes a struggle, given the sequence of developments, the glaring, shaming, inflaming events that have propelled to this sordid pass. Mine is the profound regret to care more for the heralded office of presidency of this Republic, and to care less for Mr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Often it is tough to be an older brother, a hard truth caller. This is one of those times. Go thine way, sir. Make thy peace with honor, my brother.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Chis Ram, GHK Lall, Guyana Presidency, hard truths, PPP/C, President Irfaan Ali

1 thoughts on “The Presidency and Ali – my recommendation”

habeeb June 10, 2025 at 1:49 pm

I like this analysis by Mr. Ram.
Ali was deep into this LamboGate thing with Mohamed.
Statia, the GRA honcho did not approve initially, the registration and
tax of the Lambo.
Then, suddenly, Mohamed was able to register his Lambo and Statia
became an invalid ?

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