The more I read statements attributed to His Excellency President Ali, the less impressed I am by his idea of what is the essence of the presidency. A good one, a respected and inspiring one. The more frequently (thank God it is so seldom) I am forced to absorb a snippet of Excellency 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. The forced kind that is bought and sold so cheaply in Guyana. 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. Evey 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 unpresidential. 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 fistfight for the ages was about to take centerstage. Somebody was bursting out of their shirt to prove either their machismo or their sense of righteous toughness. 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 to assist the president.
There are three areas randomly selected to emphasize to President Ali, his cluster of advisers, and the Guyanese people that he is going about the leadership of this country in the worst way possible. Corruption is chronic and cancerous and is killing this country. Yet, in Excellency Ali, there is this thunder of bluster about how much his government has been with transparency and accountability. Which government, Mr. President? At which high point in the last four years, master? If there is the accountability to the degree spoken of, then why are those damn Yankees intercepting, escorting, detaining, and questioning Guyanese with different close relationships to he 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? Not for rank-and-file Guyanese, but 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 to gain traction.
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 (even besmirches himself) to the cheap and tawdry when his message on most occasions and most matters must be spiced up with some reference to the PNC. Take out the PNC (what it did, if it ever did anything good) and the president and vice president become 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, and 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 on feet without the orthopedic mechanics of the PNC needed to proceed up the stairs.
Last, I have some bad news for President Ali. It is said that some of the people can be fooled some of the time, and not all of them all the time. I regret to inform him that things have deteriorated to 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 natural dignity about it. Please don’t desecrate it further, Excellency Ali. Be controlled. Be cool.
