President Ali must seize the high ground

Jul 16, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – Guyana needs leadership – solid, forceful and visible leadership – from its elected President. President Ali must rise to the occasion and not allow the impression to take further root that he is playing second fiddle to his appointed Second Vice President.

In politics, it is said that perception is reality. The President must by now be aware of the perception, prevalent and pervasive in the public domain, that he is being overshadowed by his Second Vice President.

The time is now for President Irfaan Ali to more fully assert his authority unequivocally by sidelining the excessive influence of the Second Vice President. President Ali has to seize control of his Presidency otherwise he may end up unexpectedly and find himself losing the next elections.

Despite his commendable efforts and vision, President Ali finds his leadership being overshadowed by his Second Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo. This overshadowing is not only a matter of internal dynamics but a significant concern for the governance and political climate of Guyana.

Since he commenced hosting his weekly press conferences, Vice President Jagdeo has assumed an increasingly prominent role in the announcement of government policies and decisions. This trend is troubling for several reasons. Firstly, it creates an impression that Dr. Jagdeo, rather than President Ali, is the primary architect of governmental direction.

This misperception is detrimental to the authority and stature of the President. It wrongly fosters an image of a leader who is not fully in command of his administration. In the eyes of the public and the international community, such an image can undermine confidence in the government.

The weekly PPP’s press conference has become platforms where government matters are pronounced upon rather than purely political issues. This blurring of lines between party and government is not only confusing but also inappropriate.

The penchant of Jagdeo to speak definitively on issues that should rightly fall within the purview of respective subject Ministers exacerbates this problem. It is essential for a functional democracy that Ministers, who are appointed to oversee specific sectors, are allowed greater opportunities to communicate their policies directly to the public and to define and defend their portfolios

The Vice President’s frequent and aggressive tirades against the Opposition and its leaders further complicate matters. His open hostility towards them contributes to a toxic political environment.

This threatens to undermine President Ali’s One Guyana agenda. The President’s vision for a united and cohesive nation is being undermined by the divisive rhetoric of his Second Vice President. A leadership that indulges in or tolerates constant confrontation with the opposition not only alienates a significant portion of the electorate but also hinders the unity which the President seeks.

For the One Guyana initiative to truly take root, it is necessary that the tone from the top reflects inclusivity, respect, and a willingness to engage in meaningful discourse with all political factions. Jagdeo’s approach, characterized by relentless confrontation with the Opposition, is antithetical to this goal.

President Ali must take decisive steps to ensure that the governance of Guyana is reflective of his vision and policies. First, Ministers should be asked to host monthly press conferences to discuss the work of their ministries. This approach not only reinforces their authority but also ensures that information is disseminated by those directly responsible for specific areas.

Second, the Second Vice President should be reassigned to a specific ministerial portfolio. Constitutionally, he is a Minister and should be assigned a specific portfolio rather than being responsible for overseeing finance, environment and the oil and gas sector. An assignment of a specific portfolio will prevent the overreach that currently exists. By holding Ministerial responsibility for an assigned area, Jagdeo’s influence can be more appropriately tamed and monitored.

Jagdeo’s importance to the government must not be over-exaggerated. Ali, during his short tenure, has proven that he is a much more hands-on persons and a go-getter than his Vice President could ever be. He has better social skills and does not come across as someone who is antagonistic to his political rivals.

There will come a time when President Ali, if he hasn’t already, will recognize that Jagdeo has outlasted his political usefulness. The continued presence of Jagdeo, with his dominating influence and confrontational approach, may no longer align with the vision of the President.

As the country progresses and new challenges arise, the necessity for fresh perspectives becomes more apparent, Ali should be the main source of this freshness. But to be impactful, he first has to take fuller control of his government, beginning with reducing the influence of his appointed Vice President.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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• Ground, leadership, Peeping Tom, perception, prevalent

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