GHK Lall BOOK REVIEW for “MY TENURE as Guyana’s Ambassador in Kuwait and Lessons in Diplomacy: How WE Improved the Image of Guyana in the Middle East” BY Dr. Shamir Andrew Ally, AUTHOR. 403 Pages.

NOTE. Before my Tenure in Kuwait was highly active with AFC USA Chapter and am Currently Serving as its Vice Chairman & International Relations. During my Tenure in Kuwait worked with 3 Ministers, 2 APNU and 1 AFC, for Foreign Affairs, Finance, & Business, on SEPARATE TRACKS. Each Minister secured CABINET APPROVALS for my 3 Appointments; Ambassador in Kuwait; FIRST Alternate Governor at Islamic Development Bank; and Deputy Chairman at GO-Invest Board of Directors.

Am told in Guyana’s History, it is WITHOUT PRECEDENT for An Ambassador to SERVE at the SAME TIME, 3 Ministers, Foreign Affairs, Finance and Business. Many people say Foreign Affairs and Finance are TWO especially important Ministries, often Senior Ministers in Countries.

Chapter 7 with “163 Acknowledgements from Ruling Families, Ministers, 37 Countries’ Ambassadors in my circle and back channels from 108 Countries, Colleagues, with bilateral and multilateral outcomes.”

We Served and Delivered with Honor, Achievements, Outcomes and Deliverables for a Better Guyana for ALL, with Almighty’s Graces, Will and Guides.

GABRIEL GHK LALL BOOK REVIEW for            Dr. Shamir Andrew Ally, AUTHOR. 

Columnist for Kaieteur News, Demerara Waves, Village Voice, Catholic Standard. Occasional contributor to Stabroek News and the Guyana Graphic. Graduate of three American Institutions of Higher Learning. Former CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Charter Holder. A 20-year veteran of Wall Street, Hospice helper, Roman Catholic Eucharistic Minister, and AUTHOR.

5 BOOKS’ Publications by GABRIEL GHK LALL

“Birth of the Millenium: A Walk-Through Life’s Pathways” (Vantage Press: New York 2000)

“Guyana. A National Cesspool of Greed, Duplicity and Corruption” (GHK Lall: Georgetown 2012).

“Guyana Elections 2015: Hard Truths, Harder Challenges” (GHK Lall, Georgetown 2015).

“Sitting on a Racial Volcano: Guyana Uncensored” (GHK Lall: Georgetown, 2013).

“Soaring into Magnificence- Cancer: From Illness to Holiness” (Publish America: Baltimore, 2011)

 GHK LALL   BOOK REVIEW 

“My Tenure as Guyana’s Ambassador in Kuwait with Lessons in Diplomacy: How We Improved the Image of Guyana in the Middle East” is a work of comprehensive sweep. Former Ambassador, Dr. Shamir Andrew Ally covered from the diplomatic to the academic, with a fastmoving walk through the heart and soul of his native Guyana, and later in his over four decades in the USA. The reader is introduced to Guyanese cuisine and conflicts, the players and the paralysis, and the probable recipe for lifting a newly rich, but struggling nation out of the quagmire in which it has been stuck, seemingly forever, and often resignedly, if not helplessly.

Former Ambassador Ally was clearly and tirelessly engaged in the groundbreaking responsibilities thrust into his hands, and which he delivered with stirring aplomb, and the reliable graciousness of his spouse, Dr. Maryann Beebe Ally, herself a toiler and partner of exceptional skill and devotion. The essence of his efforts, the compilation of a duet’s endeavors, it must be said, condenses to this strange unknown place called Guyana being given an identity in the Sahara and the neighboring nations for a start, and then beyond. Dr. Ally has done well for his country and fellow citizens, for Guyana is now hailed as one of the more exciting arrivals on the global stage. His book places Guyana in the context of its circumstances at the time and illustrates the yeoman’s efforts and quiet skills that built in a true pioneering manner and left a coherent blueprint for others to follow. It is a good one.

In writing this review of Dr. Ally’s book, I encountered the startling. As the Fates would have it, we share some roots of geography and schooling in our early days. Though we have never met in person, there is a bond through names and having left footsteps in some of the same places. God does work in mysterious ways, and it took a book almost 50 years later for the connection to be discovered and sealed.

This book is also about Dr. Ally’s journey in the academic and corporate worlds of America. His contributions and challenges, and it is a testimony to the resilience of his character, his drive to exceed. In doing so, there was only one way: the honest one, and constantly so. Prior to America, there are those who had a huge hand in where Shamir Ally the man who became ambassador, a leader, a pacesetter, and a role model. Some of the storied names from Guyana’s past made significant contributions to the direction of his life, and the imprints that he left. From the Lions Club to leading figures in commerce, politics, law, and more are all in the chapters and pages of this well-written record of a man life experience. From the people he touched to the people who touched him first. And the cars that he loved.

There is family, there are friends, there are colleagues, and there is always country close to the pinnacle of his visions and considerations.

This book is at once enthralling and inspiring. It is a must read for all Guyanese, wherever they may be, and for all lovers of a fine piece of craftsmanship. It reads like a story but is also about what captures deep history. Get it! Read it! Enjoy it! Be engaged by it. And be moved by it.

The Author, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Dr. Shamir Andrew Ally Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer at electronics manufacturing Corporations in New York and Pennsylvania, with AMEX, NYSE, and NASDAQ Public Corporations listed CSuite Executive, Professor, Philanthropist, Servant Leader, Motivational Speaker, Ambassador and Author. He earned BBA, MBA, and Ph.D. Degrees in the USA. 

GLOBAL experiences are in International Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Finance, Taxation, Management, Strategic Management, Manufacturing, Entrepreneurship, Small & Medium Size Enterprises, Servant Leadership, Not-For-Profit University, Education and Government, in the following (16) Manufacturing Industries & Services, Electronics, Apparel, Printing & Packaging, Insurance, Financing, Lotteries, Pharmaceuticals, Sugar, Rice, Spices, Gold, Diamonds, Accounting, Auditing & Consulting Services, Universities and Diplomacy.  

My Tenure as Guyana’s Ambassador in Kuwait with Lessons in Diplomacy: How We Improved the Image of Guyana in the Middle East: AMAZON: Paperback, eBook, and Hardcover – April 1, 2024

Knowing the Middle East is one thing, understanding it is another. Most people in the West do not know the countries in that Region and many Western Governments have been trying to understand it for decades or have failed to do after mistakenly thinking that they know it.

Written in tutorial style and format, Professor Ally’s book informs and teaches, and provides an enabling opportunity to correct, in part, some of these mistakes.

Writing a book while engaged in numerous and onerous official duties is not an easy matter. But Professor Ally has skillfully avoided this by preparing to produce the eventual work after leaving the office. Accordingly, the writing of the book has been facilitated by a well-kept detailed diary of events and experiences during his tenure as Ambassador of Guyana in Kuwait. As he teaches in Lesson 69 “maintain records of all you do and keep them securely”.

These records have been supplemented by inputs of PATIENCE, informal opinions from diwaniyas (Arabic meeting places), and commentaries conceived by his own incisive intellect and advice by some of his more experienced diplomatic colleagues, especially the wise Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Kuwait, Ambassador Sheik Abdou Lahad Mbacke of Senegal, who counselled Dr. Shamir: “You need to UNLEARN most of what you learned in the Western World and RELEARN each day you are in Kuwait, as the very rich Kuwait and Gulf Corporation countries, operate on three keys: RELATIONSHIP, PATIENCE and RESPECT“.

April 22, 2024, Confirmation, at LIBRARY of CONGRESS Control Number 2023525630

Photo: AMAZON Best Sellers Rank:

# 23 in Public Affairs & Administration

# 408 in U.S. Political Science

CHAPTER 7 in the Book is with 163 Acknowledgements, Accolades, and Nuggets from RULING FAMILIES, AMBASSADORS from 37 Countries and Colleagues, with BILATERAL and MULTILATERAL OUTCOMES. 3 Acknowledgements are hereunder. 

• Kuwait, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Foreign Minister of The State of Kuwait. December 2019 – October 2022

“I have known HE the Ambassador Dr. Shamir Ally since he came to Kuwait in 2016 and I worked closely with him during his tenure in Kuwait. He possesses a very positive attitude, and he is a very reliable person on whom one can count to get the mission done. He was one of the most active ambassadors in Kuwait. His passion, his energy, his determination, and his patriotism made his country very well known in Kuwait and opened many doors for Guyana in Kuwait on different levels.

His commitment to strengthen the mutual relationships between our two countries was outstanding, and his diplomatic skills helped to build and develop lasting friendly relations between our two countries.

It is to be mentioned as well, that his Wife Dr. Maryann was a great support for him in his mission and was as active as he was. Her engagement to serve her country and her devotion to serve others left a great print in Kuwait and I am sure that this passion will accompany her, anywhere she goes.

I thank you Ambassador for being such an active and committed person who raised the level of the relationships between our two countries to a different level.”

1. Kuwait, Dr Mohammad Al-Fadhel, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs; Minister of Oil, Electricity and Water 2018-2020 including OPEC; Director General Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, (KFAS) and Director Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) to August 2025, “Dear brother excellency Prof. Dr. Shamir & Dr. Maryann, You’ve done a great job while serving Guyana in Kuwait. You will definitely be missed. A couple like yourselves set a benchmark for how Ambassadors should be. Thank you for the great company and hope to see you back in Kuwait. It is very hard to forget a person like your good self and Dr. Maryann. You have been wonderful to everyone you have met. I miss our fruitful chats. You are always a blessing. Whenever I see you, I get energized and receive a full positive recharge for the rest of the week. Thanks for your presence, thanks for your smile, and thanks for being you. My regards to Dr. Maryann. Your book will help the readers to bridge the Western and Gulf Arabic Cultures. You deserve all the best excellencies. After all, how many Prof. Shamir are there in the world? And more specifically, how many are there in Guyana? 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️.”
2. Kuwait Ruling Family, Sheikh Duaij Jaber Al Ali Al Sabah Esq.” Dr Shamir had been a light beacon when he was in, which helped in the safe travels of people and messages throughout the Middle East and beyond. His ideas and works made the world a better place by creating more bridges of respect, understanding and cooperation. It was diplomacy at its highest good achievements. When he was in Kuwait diplomacy at its highest level and good fruitful achievements”

TABLE of CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction 

Acknowledgements

Mentors in Guyana

1. My Beginning Years in Guyana, South America, to currently.
2. Discovering, Learning, and Thriving in the USA
3. First Alternate Governor for Guyana at Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2017 to 2020 with USD $900 Million Credit and Grant.
4. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Guyana, South America, to Kuwait, 2016 to 2020 and How we improved Guyana’s Image in the Middle East and securing approximately USD $1Billion in Credit and Grant in four years tenure.
5. Overview and my experiences with Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman
6. Guides and one hundred Best Practices for Professors and Students at Universities with International Relations and Diplomacy Programs, and to Ambassadors.
7. 163 Acknowledgements from Ruling Families, Ministers, 37 Countries’ Ambassadors in my circle and back channels from 108 Countries, Colleagues, with bilateral and multilateral outcomes.

Bibliography                                                     

Index

AUTHOR’S Short BIO:

Dr. Shamir Andrew Ally is a successful Practitioner and Academic in the Business World with over 30 years of USA C-Suite business experiences at Electronics Manufacturing Corporations that were included on The American Stock Exchange (AMEX), The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ). He served as Corporate Controller, Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and has over 37 years of teaching experience, at both the undergraduate & graduate levels, for BBA, MBA, PhD, and Ed.D. Degrees’ Programs. 

Shamir during 1960 to 1979 in GUYANA, South America, held EXECUTIVE POSITIONS in both the PRIVATE and PUBLIC sectors serving as: Accountant: H B Gajraj and Admin Assistant to Speaker Lord Mayor of Georgetown/ Speaker of Parliament/CEO, HB Gajraj, Hon. Rahman Bacchus Gajraj, CBE; Company Secretary/Accountant at Bookers/Guyana Lithographic & Boxmakers Ltd.; Secretary/Director, Bookers/Guyana Lithographic Co-operative Credit Union; Deputy Chairman, Board of Governors, Kuru Kuru Co-operative College; Director, Guyana Co-operative Insurance Services; Director, Guyana National Lotteries; 1966 to 1979 Private Accounting & Tax Practice for Rice, Spices, Gold, & Diamonds’ Clients; 1976 Guyana Government Financial Advisory Group, for the Acquisition of Booker McConnell Sugar Estates and Other Bookers’ Holdings; Team of 1 person for a 1977 Printing Rationalization Report for Guystac CEO Ossie Baptiste: for Guyana Lithographic & Boxmakers, Guyana Chronicle and Guyana Graphic; Led or Member of several delegations, Guyana Government Overseas Missions; and served 1977-1979 General Manager, Gafoor’s Group of Companies. 

Shamir served during 1972-1977 as President Twinning Association of Georgetown: Georgetown Twinned with OTTAWA, Canada and LUSAKA, Zambia; President at Central Demerara Lions Club; Georgetown Jaycees®; and Georgetown Toastmasters Club with Patron Sir Donald Jackson; Member of Guyana Motor Racing Club; Guyana Turf Club with Lloyd Luckhoo, Esq.; and Guyana Cricket Club. 

During 1977, Lion Shamir Ally at the Central Demerara Lions Club received the Lions International Ambassador of Goodwill from Lions International Past President Jorge Bird of Puerto Rico, and was 1984/85 Lions International District Governor, New York 20-K2, with 100% District Governor Award & Melvin Jones 5 Diamonds’ Status. On May 26, 1966, Shamir Ally, attended the ceremony and saw the GOLDEN ARROWHEAD RAISED for GUYANA for the FIRST TIME, serving as Administrative Assistant to Lord Mayor of Georgetown, Speaker of Parliament, and MD/CEO H.B. Gajraj, His Excellency Rahman Bacchus Gajraj, CBE.

Dr Shamir Andrew Ally, on May 11, 1994, at the Republican Mid-Term Convention, Washington, DC, received from USA President Herbert Walker Bush # 41, the “Republican Senatorial Medal of Freedom” for “Dedication, Unwavering Support, and as a Prominent Leader in the Republican Party.” Dr. Shamir joined the ranks of the first 3 Recipients, President Ronald Reagan (Oct 1, 93), Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher (Sept 29, 1993), and Charlton Heston (July 29, 1993). This is the Highest Honor the Republican Members of the US Senate can bestow. During 1994 Senator Bob Dole was the Republican Senate Leader, and Senator Dr. Phil Gramm was Republican Chairperson. 

Dr. Shamir Andrew Ally contributed 16 white papers and articles to a range of journals and publications including Cricket, Tourism, Finance, Management & Managerial Accounting. Dr. Shamir served as Visiting Professor in Accounting, Management & Information Systems, at University of Guyana, Romanian American University, and Qatar University. 

Received from Alliance for Change (AFC) their Golden Key and AFC Party ELDER designation.

2007 CRICKET WORLD CUP IN GUYANA, was Dr. Shamir Ally’s 1st Return to his homeland after 28 years paid 90% of all expenses, Kutztown University 5 % for the FINAL report printing, and University of Guyana G 5% for students’ travels to Cheddi Jagan International Airport for Questionnaires’ Completions. April 1- 3, 2007, Prof. Dr. Shamir, DeSales University, MBA Program, Pennsylvania, USA, was THE CONCEPTUALIZER as a PERSONAL GIVE BACK TO GUYANA > ON-SITE Co-Coordinator for a 2007 Cricket World Cup SPECTATORS’ SURVEY in GUYANA, with Professor Dr. Douglas Turco, Kutztown University, and Dr. Marlene Cox, from University of Guyana. 

Records show12,208 overseas visitors attended 6 cricket matches. Visitors completed a 2 pages’ questionnaire, with 20 questions. A 21 Page Report was presented to Guyana’s President, Minister of Sports, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony, and Minister of Education, with Cricket, Sports, Tourism, and Business officials in attendance at the report’s presentation on October 12, 2007, in Guyana organized by the University of Guyana. 500 Printed Reports were circulated. 

UG LIBRARY > “DR. SHAMIR ALLY, READING CORNER.” From 2003 made 8 Donations of 1458 textbooks and media devices to the University of Guyana LIBRARY where there is a “Dr. Shamir Ally, Reading Corner” with an estimated value of G$19,115,400: (USD $95,577), on Accounting, Management, Economics, Project Management, Strategic Management, Leadership, Business, Entrepreneurship, Languages, and Health.

Photo:  Dr. Shamir Ally and Dr. Mustafa Yacoob Behbehani, Chairman Kuwaiti Gulf Group and PRESIDENT of the Kuwait, Cuba, Peru, and GUYANA Friendship Association.

Onward & Upward towards, One People, One Nation, One Destiny.