By GHK Lall- No! It’s not oil. It’s bigger. It’s neither mountains nor minerals, seas and forests. Grand, indeed; but wrong again. None of those even come close to God’s greatest gift to Guyanese. All of them. Whoever is such a Gulliverian figure as to have slumbered for the last 20 years, sleep on, miss the party. For those who prefer being ostriches with heads clogged by mud and crud, stay right there.
One has to be the ancient Peking Man or the Man from La Mancha not to have heard, not to know, of Mohamed Irfaan Ali. God greatest gift to Guyanese. The incomparable, impeccable Irfaan Ali now world-class medical pioneer, thoughtful preacher, and spiritual leader par excellence. Yes! this is happening and there’s gratitude for this magnificent political leader, now revolutionary medical pioneer, now profound spiritual leader. Move over Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Christian Barnard, and Rev TD Jakes. What is the world coming to, into what abyss will it plunge?
From the lascivious and adulterous King Henry VIII of England to the wondrous, luminous Salih and Siddiq Ali I of Guyana. From Maximum Leader and Kabaka LFS Burnham to Supreme Leader MI Ali. From Founding Fathers Burnham and Jagan to the New Father of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali. No contest. Of that let there be neither dispute or mistake. From the snowy wastes of Manchuria and North Korea (and Kim) to the green pastures of Leonora and Guyana, hail to the King. I think Emperor with a capital E is more fitting. No accolade, no homage, no prostration, is too much to offer at the feet of Excellency Ali, Divine Light, Divine Commander of Guyanese Faithful. The Bureau of Stats last count was a million of such pious souls, with Venezuelans not even counted.
It is time for both sobriety check and sanity check. An asininity check would also be in order. It is, therefore, highly recommended. What the hell is going on in Guyana? Or what may be closer to reality: WTF? Get me clear and get me straight. There’s absolutely no issue, no crisis, with giving credit where credit is due, especially for national leaders. There is FP, MP, and FLOP Bharrat Jagdeo the Genius (Wales GTE).
There is Army Commander and now Prime Minister Mark Anthony Phillip (the Shakespearean tragedy of unpaid Stabroek News ads). There is the Maldivian maestro, Dr. Ashni Singh (Mr. Nation Development Priorities [try competing, or coming close to that bag of rabbits and carrots]). And, Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandall (Mr. Rule of Law [who partially retrieved himself before the ICJ]). I can praise these five-watt luminaries, so it’s natural progression for praise and thanks, honor and glory to be heaped on Guyana’s most sublime and divine son, Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
A slight hiccup has to be overcome. There is something called overcooked -all the flavor gone. Then, there is overbaked. Who in Guyana likes eating bun-bun? Last, there’s the oversell. It means that the product is a dud. Not worth the trying; hence, no buying.
To those who are paid to pretend at fits of drooling deliriousness over Pres Irfaan Ali: Don’t do such injustice to the man. It is the crappy oversaturation that leads to overkill. Here’s a nifty illustration. It has the advantage of engaging seductiveness. Think of nude figures. When nothing is left to the imagination, the intellect, where is the attraction and inspiration? The very voluptuousness that is so enchanting to voyeurs and Peeping Toms is repelling to connoisseurs of the fine arts and the finer things in life. Whether flesh or flame, whether president or indigent, slowdown, gather wits, and let good sense take control.
To present majestically, what is presidentially befitting, wrap arms around this. Put up a stain glass window that is too pure and too perfect, and it shatters and scatters under the burdens of its weight, before too long. Whatever Mohamed Irfaan Ali may be, he deserves better.
