Senior Counsel and Member of Parliament Roysdale Forde, in a scathing critique of President Irfaan Ali’s leadership in the face of Venezuelan heightened aggression and concern by the Guyanese about Venezuela’s behaviour, states his time for leaving Guyana is most inappropriate. The President, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and other high level government officials flew out to Dubai, United Arab Emirates to attend an international Convention on Climate Change. Ali left Guyana Monday afternoon and is expected to return December 2; a day before the Venezuelan referendum that includes a question of claiming Essequibo.
Forde expressing serious concern about the president’s decision says as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Head of State the “nation must not accept that these officials’ presence in Dubai is more important than being in Guyana with the Guyanese people, nor other participating countries would have expected the President and or Vice President’s presence in Dubai when Guyana faces a crisis of this magnitude.” The senior counsel has equated the president’s absence from Guyana, at this time, as an abandonment of his post.
Lambasting the government for what he refers to as recent public relations blitz, the member of parliament notes in “the time of tension and uncertainty they are operating as though it is business as usual….lulling Guyanese into a false sense of security, only to abandon the proverbial ship closest to the most heightened period of Venezuelan threat.”
Touching on the president’s customary failure to address the nation prior to his departure, the parliamentary makes known “also instructive is Guyanese were never told about Mr. Ali’s trip prior to departure nor did he see it fitting to address the nation before leaving and calm fears.” This is true to the president’s character, an act that has come to signify his disrespect for the Guyanese people and the office he holds, Forde points out. “Every day he reminds Guyanese of his unfitness for office.”
See Forde’s full below:-
President Ali, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has abandoned his post
The announcement by the Government that President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and other Government officials, will be out of the country at this crucial time when Guyana faces Venezuela’s aggression and the nation is threatened, is unforgivable.
According to the government’s release the president left Guyana on Monday November 27, 2023 for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is expected to return on December 2, the day before Venezuela’s referendum.
We must not accept the meeting they have headed off to is more important than being present to give reassurance to Guyanese that all is well. No convention on Climate Change can be more important than Guyana’s security and sovereignty and the presence of Guyana’s Head of State in the moment of fear and uncertainty.
This nation must not accept that these officials’ presence in Dubai is more important than being in Guyana with the Guyanese people, nor other participating countries would have expected the President and or Vice President’s presence in Dubai when Guyana faces a crisis of this magnitude.
These government officials have abandoned the country. They have all gone on an excursion to the much sought after Dubai at taxpayers’ expense, enjoying per diem and other paid expenses.
In the time of tension and uncertainty they are operating as though it is business as usual. The past few days they were on a PR blitz around the country, lulling Guyanese into a false sense of security, only to abandon the proverbial ship closest to the most heightened period of Venezuelan threat.
Also instructive is Guyanese were never told about Mr. Ali’s trip prior to departure nor did he see it fitting to address the nation before leaving and calm fears. True to character he had the state media issue a statement, an act that has come to signify his disrespect for the Guyanese people and the office he holds. Every day he reminds Guyanese of his unfitness for office.
Prior to the president’s departure Guyanese were treated to photo opportunities with him at the border with our men and women in uniform. He was also seen callously swinging in a hammock in an army tent, whilst our soldiers, even in relaxed mode, appeared to take their job more seriously than their commander-in-chief. This was evident with the soldiers cladded in uniforms which conveyed their commitment and readiness to serve and defend our beloved country, always.
President Irfaan Ali, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has chosen in this period of heightened tension and uncertainty to abandon his post.
