The President must speak for himself

Jun 23, 2025 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

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Hard Truths column…

By GHK Lall

Kaieteur News – During the public contributions about the president of this Republic in the matter of his alleged proximity to the taxes to be paid or not on some luxury vehicle(s), a strange development occurred. Strange because it may not have been pondered, hence unintended. Strange because it is not the first time that it has occurred in the furnaces and freezes that saturate this land that is so gifted, yet so much ground into the dust.

It was asserted with some considerable conviction that bringing up and continually highlighting the president’s involvement, or noninvolvement, in the Lamborghini tax matter was not fair to the holder of the highest office in Guyana. It just should not be, and encapsulated some level of disrespect to the leader, his dignity, was the position taken by his defenders. Thus, they strove valiantly to circle the wagons around his wounded person, give him a much-needed breather to recover his equilibrium. Equilibrium, I am fine with, but how and to where?

The question surfacing is simple. Did those who rose up to run interference for the president, to steer the discussion away from the issue, to retaliate with elbows-sharp or soft-pause long enough to fathom what they are doing to the president? And also, to the integrity of the presidency? When Guyanese, those who sift through the vehicle tax dispute, take the conscientious position that a smoking gun looks palpable, with presidential fist probably wrapped around it, are baselessly skewered, then his helpers inflict a wrong on the president? Those defending the president do him an injustice.

When what gives persuasive appearance of meeting tests of reasonableness in this unnerving tax business is scorned, then I contend that the president is served poorly. It’s not as sensibly as his advocates fool themselves into believing. And, most of all, when what gives off a powerful aroma of defending the indefensible, then his own Palace Guard is disrespecting him rather thoughtlessly. I ask, whether those running to the rescue of the president, be it reflexively or the call of duty, have thought about this: the damage that they are doing to him by their own blindness, their unctuous fawning. The presidency is due honesty. The president is not due homage. Homage is for the infallible and the immortal. Here is a bold, broad one: not a single president of Guyana has even approached within an inspiring nearness to either. The opposite reigns.

When a shroud of immaculacy is hung around the president, his people disparage him. As gleaned from the public record, the president is neither a juvenile nor an imbecile. No and No! So, why coddle him as though he is a dainty child, a tongue-tied ward, someone incapable of standing on his own and state his case before the Guyanese people? This isn’t about a policy defence. It is above his advocacy for his name. For sure, Guyana’s president is not on trial. He labours under trials of doubt. The first is recoiling -is this so? The second is disbelief – this cannot be so. Or did it, in the manner of nocturnal operators finalizing business in some dark alley? The last ordeal for balanced, honest citizens is what now to do regarding trust for the president? To trust still, or not to trust now, that is the question?

These questions should have been deeply concerning, enough to be accorded the probity and prudence that they were due. To disagree on what really took place was and is the president’s duty. To deny that there was even a whiff of the underhanded or improper in what looked like dealing in the unpresidential is a role for the president and the president only. And, at any time that the president was of the belief that he had what was truth and justness on his side, then only his standing tall and unflinchingly before all challengers would provide the exoneration now so elusive to this matter. To hurry to get in front of the president does him a disservice. No president worth his salt, should be comfortable with others serving as his standard-bearer, sword carrier. Once again, I state that when the president – any president – has the light of what is right as his full body halo, then no centurion is needed, and for one reason only. He is his own legion.

What I layout at length for the president of this Republic applies also to Prime Minister Phillips, Vice President Jagdeo, and Opposition commanders, Norton and Hughes. They must also stand on their own feet in times of test. To the president, who though unnamed is not unknown, I extend this priceless gift: though the court of public opinion ranks large, there is one that’s bigger. It is that highest, most demanding of tribunals – the conscience of every man and woman.

(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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• Azuruddin Mohamed, GHK Lall, Lamborghini tax, President Ali

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