Guyana doesn’t have the luxury to “dance between the raindrops,” we must choose a side.

Dear Editor,

Kindly permit me the opportunity to offer an opinion on the 28  February 2025 press conference in the White House: It was a  tragicomedy starring Donald Trump of the Apprentice Show and  Volodymyr Zelinsky of The Servant of the People Show. While my  sympathies are with Zelenskyy and Ukraine, one must recognize that  he did his country a disservice. Let me elaborate:

First, Zelensky has a working knowledge of English and speaks  with a thick jarring accent. His message gets lost in his delivery. In  such a high stakes negotiation and press event, he should have  walked with a gorgeous female translator who looked like Trump’s  wife and spoke flawless English. This would appeal to Trump’s  prurient tendencies. In Guyanese lingo: you have to set a twa-twa to  catch a twa-twa.

Second, using a translator [even though Zelensky can speak  English] would have given him a tactical advantage: while the  interpreter is translating, Zelensky would have time to better assess  the situation and formulate an appropriate response in his language.  He went to Washington D.C. to get a deal done. Instead, he was  ensnared in a shouting match with Trump and Vance.

Third, Trump is an egotist. Zelensky went to the White House  with a mission: to get a deal done. He did not understand that flattery  could have gotten him everywhere. Look at Sir Keir Starmer: he came  with an invitation from King Charles. Clearly, appealing to Trump’s  desire for pedigree: Trump’s thinking, here is the King pandering to  me. Zelensky should have arrived at the White House bearing a gift.  I would have suggested a medal of the highest order that Ukraine can  come up with. I would even encrust it with diamonds. In the words of  the great African scholar-Ali Mazrui, “It is not bribery but an act of  prior appreciation.”

Fourth, this Public Relations debacle has great repercussions for  Ukraine. Zelensky was out of his depth. This was a real time  demonstration of the Peter Principle- employees are promoted based  on their success in previous jobs until they reach a level at which they are no longer competent.  Zelenskyy has reached his max and  ought to resign.

Zelensky reminds me of our 1961 PR disaster in the White  House. Cheddi Jagan’s evasive answers got him in trouble with  Kennedy and the rest is history. See the attached picture.

Zelensky’s debacle ought to be a teaching moment for our  leaders. Guyana does not have the luxury to “dance between the  raindrops.” We must choose a side; we better learn that in America  there is a new sheriff in town, and he is tough. God grants us wisdom  to navigate the future and Slava Ukraini.

Yours truly,

Roger Ally

Fort Lauderdale