At age 28

Jun 25, 2024 Editorial

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Kaieteur News – A few months ago many Guyanese were clapping when in a very undignified manner, President Irfaan Ali sought to berate BBC Journalist, Stephen Sackur during an interview.

We believe the thrust of what Mr. Ali said during the exchange was sound and that most Guyanese do not have any particular trouble with him standing up for this country. The issue was his tone and the undignified manner in which he did what he did.

We had seen that same behaviour before, when he manhandled one of his bodyguards who had been blocking his path at a Building Expo walkabout. Then there was the public shaming of a Guyana Power and Light (GPL) engineer during a meeting on the Lower East Coast Demerara with his supporters.

This is not the manner of national leaders, should never be. These shabby episodes projected too much arrogance, a crude impatience, almost a playing to the crowd in the style of a sports or entertainment figure who came into much money.  In the instance of money, we wonder whether it is intoxicant of power that has vanquished all his training in basic courtesy.

The way he spoke to teachers in the earlier days of the strike and his crude interactions with building contractors whenever he decides to inspect progress on public works projects are also worth noting. If we are to go by these incidents alone, one can only imagine his interactions with his cabinet members and other senior public servants.

The idea of a president being in the forefront and taking a hands-on approach to his job is commendable, but he must do so with humility and respect for citizens. Speaking to ordinary citizens ‘any how’ as we say in local parlance is unbecoming of a national leader. His belittling of a young reporter, Shervin Belgrave last week at his news conference raises questions about his temperament and how he views ordinary citizens. For someone who was born of working class parents and understood the difficulties in this economy, President Ali concluded that because at the age of 28 Belgrave does not  own a home or has not applied for a house lot meant, he was wasting his life.

Demeaning  for sure;  unpresidential, it was; let there be no mistake.  Such a measurement of one’s standard of living or aspirations is very skewed. Unlike Ali, who at the age of 28 was appointed Housing Minister due to being in the right place with the right people to champion him, regardless of his mettle.

Mr. Belgrave is not so privileged. As a working class citizen he earns an honest living plying his trade as a reporter. He was not handpicked like some who work closely with the President for a house lot in some of more well developed schemes, neither was he ushered into the construction sector as some of the many fly-by-night contractors who are being given multi-million dollar contracts with no prior experience in the field.

At 28 Mr. Belgrave like so many other Guyanese might not be able to do too many things with his salary owing to the high cost of living which President Ali can do something about but has failed to do. It would be inspiring to observe President Ali bring that same energy and authority to make the cost of living be about a manageable living for ordinary Guyanese

At 28, Mr. Belgrave has not been strategically placed to acquire state properties below market value and use the privileges of a state office to indulge in corrupt practices, to enrich his family and friends. He has to earn the hard way -honestly. At 28, Mr. Belgrave works as a reporter by day and an entertainment host by night. It would be interesting to know what else other than housing and water duties Mr. Ali was involved in when at 28 he was ensconced at the housing ministry.

What is known and perhaps worth repeating is that two years after being appointed minister Mr. Ali was able to acquire a property from GuySuco and constructed a house at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, which at the time was the talk of the country. As was reported by this newspaper back then the house appears to accommodate eight bedrooms, a large living room, a detached kitchen and a walkway that runs around the front of the building. In addition to the home there is a multi-million-dollar pool house. Perhaps Mr. Ali should tell Mr. Belgrave how is it one can acquire such vast wealth on a public servant’s salary at the relatively young age of 30.We urge President Ali to be more circumspect, to grow in a more mature manner into the leadership role that is now his.  Again, by being favored through circumstances that many Guyanese still weigh, have their own ideas. Lighten up, President Ali.  Remember this: pride goeth before a fall.

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• Editorial, Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Guyanese, President Irfaan Ali, Shervin Belgrave

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