President Irfaan Ali has recently taken to walking around Guyana in military-style fatigues since Venezuela has intensified its sabre rattling and hostility against the country. Criminologist, social activist and host of ‘Straight Up’ show Mark Benschop has since brought under scrutiny the president’s sartorial choices.
In an interview with Village Voice News, Benschop said it is ironic to see the president walking around the country with these clothes to seek support from Guyanese, and particularly members of the Disciplined Services when his regime does not pay them properly or feed them well. “Now they want to put these people on the frontline.”
According to the talk show host it is the same People’s Progressive Party (PPP), when in Opposition, who discouraged their supporters from joining the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), Guyana People’s Militia, Guyana National Service (GNS), and the National Guard Service (NGS).
Further he said, “during their 23 miserable years in office they starved the military of funding, opting to spend millions into forming community policing and private security firms, some owned by questionable characters, in an attempt to undermine and replace the formal security forces.”
The talk show host said he doubts whether Ali every did muster, turned up on the drill square to march “or could even march.” These military-style clothes are early Halloween costumes, the talk show offered. And “like his ‘one Guyana’ fake scheme, so too is his hurriedly put together fake military suits by his jokey tailors.”
The social activist said whilst Guyanese may find the President’s different outfits comical relief, he is asking Guyanese to take the military fatigues as a serious insult to our men and women in uniform who the PPP wants to be battle ready to defend Guyana when they are treating them less than Guyanese. “Though the outfit looks comical, it is not comical issue” Benschop said.
