It’s a new day – a fitting one too

Sep 05, 2025 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

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Kaieteur News – It is a new day.  That it is a Youman Nabi day celebrating the prophet’s birthday makes it all the more fitting, especially given that two young men who bear his name now stand in places of power in this multicultural entity called Guyana.  I recall legendary New York baseball manager, Yogi Berra, who in 1973 uttered what has gone down in folklore: “it ain’t over till it’s over.”  It is over, as far as elections are concerned in Guyana, for me.  Whether it has been made official or not, the elections are over, and it is time for all Guyana to get going.  Get off the addictive elections kick, and let’s all get a move on.  What better day for this to begin all over again, than on Youman Nabi, with Dr. Irfaan Ali as president, and Mr. Azruddin Mohamed, as the fresh, new Leader of the Opposition.  I pray that the graces of heaven be with both of them, that their minds will be clear and true, their footsteps sure and echo with confident stride.  Guyana needs that from both of them.  Guyanese need the best of the best from both of these sons of the soil.

Whether they care for me or not, I don’t care.  Guyanese need for them to care.  All that energy manifested recently to forge to the heights that they are now perched.  I am watching to weigh how much of that same drive, that hands-on intimacy, that fevered bustle, will now be directed away from them and their interests.  Away towards the direction of the Guyanese people.  In the event that there are those that are wondering if I have changed, I have this answer.  I have more spots than the owl of ole, more freckles than the leopards of yore, i.e., no change.  As Shirley Caesar sang so powerfully, “after nine months of carrying you, after all…, no charge.” For its part, Guyana needs to charge ahead and I look towards President Ali, who I have recommenced calling by name.  It should convey something to my friends in the PPP.  I have already adjusted, I can just as well advance to where the preference is not to go.

The president needs to change.  From where he was to what is healthy for Guyanese: an inclusive leader in policy and deeds.  Words are sweet, and the very sweet ones are where the most bargains can be had.  To say differently, words are cheap, too often they are too cheap.  Excellency Ali must be benevolent and hospitable and generous.  Think of those words, I appeal to all Guyanese, whether believers are not, on this day.  From not one child left behind to not one Guyanese left behind.  Left alone.  Left desperate and left lost.  I humbly suggest to President Ali that he tries a new skin cream.  His is too thin; his skin scars too easily, and they don’t heal that quickly, if at all.

On this the new day of a second term, President Ali has the world of Guyana in his hands.  May he herald a new and different Guyana.  One that listens to views that clash with his sense of right.  One that rolls with the punches and emerges stronger for it.  Often, it is good to have some turbulence, for that keeps everyone in their places.  There is no interest in being a friend of the president; nor should he and his folk think of me as an enemy.  As part of this new beginning, I take the first step, and I call some names publicly, as an indication of my own expansive nature.  To Dr. Jagdeo, Mr. McCoy et al, Dr. Persaud, Mr. B, Mr. Nascimento, and all others, I hold neither malice nor memory; neither wish for nor cherish those as company.  For then what kind of human being, believer, citizen, teacher would I be?  Today, there is more preaching than teaching.  It is irrelevant to me, if there is graciousness, but my objective is to add some to their day.  I have enough left to spare some more.

Guyana must go forth in this new era.  I lean on President Ali, PM Philips, VP Jagdeo to stand apart and then stand together with the entirety of the Guyanese family.  From life, I have seen, and am sure that they know. how rich family inheritances can cleave apart and crush family members.  I appeal to them and the better angels in their nature to do their best not to let that happen to the great inheritance that is the opulent endowment of every Guyanese, and those aliens in the midst who identify as citizens.

I go forth not knowing what today will bring, much less tomorrow.  I exhort President Ali and Opposition Leader Mohamed that they go forth together with every Guyanese, especially those that don’t look like them, or think like them.  For once, give the fraternity and sorority of this Guyanese nationality a genuine opportunity to do more than survive.  Give it the space to prosper.  There! I have taken the first step; I have said the first word.  My best to all.

(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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• fitting one, GHK Lall, new day, Youman Nabi

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