From Where I Stand... President Ali is striking the right chords but can we play the full tune?

From Where I Stand… President Ali is striking the right chords but can we play the full tune?

Sep 21, 2025 Features / Columnists, News

By Janelle Persaud

Kaieteur News – “I am not the president of some Guyanese. I am the president of all Guyana,” declared President Irfaan Ali at his inauguration. “One Guyana is not a slogan, it is a lived ethic. Each of us is equal in dignity, equal in opportunity, and equal in respect. To those of you who did not support me, know this: I am your president too.”

From Where I Stand... President Ali is striking the right chords but can we play the full tune?

Janelle Persaud

Those words struck the right chords. They acknowledged division, but also promised inclusion. They were followed by other signals that the administration is listening: a commitment to fight corruption, to move “One Guyana” beyond mere branding, and to reshape ministries in ways that, if done seriously, could address deep inefficiencies.

The Cabinet changes are a case in point. We saw the addition of “Manpower Planning” to the mandate of the Ministry of Labour, a portfolio that, if delivered, could help Guyana finally align skills training with labour market needs. We saw a Ministry for Government Efficiency and Implementation, led by Zulfikar Ally, a direct admission that bureaucracy and bottlenecks are choking delivery. There were other shifts too: new faces in Amerindian Affairs, Youth, and Sport; a mix of energy and experience; even a few long-time figures moved aside. These early choices reflect both recognition of past shortcomings and a willingness to reset.

But we must be careful: announcements alone can be performative. “One Guyana” cannot survive as a slogan. It requires statutory footing, inclusive membership, (government, opposition, Indigenous and other minority leaders, youth, private sector etc.) and measurable cohesion goals: integrated school pilots, shared services across “opposition” local government authorities, anti-discrimination enforcement data, possibly tabled in Parliament annually. Only then will “oneness” travel from lectern to life. Likewise, an Anti-Corruption Unit must be independent with clear checks and balances: who watches the watchdog? And it must have teeth: public asset declarations, random audits, prosecution statistics. Jamaica’s Integrity Commission offers lessons (good and bad), the strength of a unified authority, but also the weakness of a gag clause that delays public disclosure. Guyana would do well to learn from both.

So yes, the chords are right. But the full tune will depend on execution, accountability, and crucially trust. And trust requires more than technical fixes. It requires a political culture that does not punish dissent. Too often, citizens hesitate to speak their minds because of the fear or at the very least, the perception of retribution. If this government truly wants citizens to participate, it must foster an environment where criticism is not met with attack but with engagement. Much of the early announcements tell us that President Ali is listening and with a more enabling environment for dissent, governance will not only be richer, but will benefit from the expertise of a wider cross section of Guyanese both home and abroad.

That is where we come in. Citizens cannot sit back and hope. Our responsibility is to do our part: to hold leaders accountable, to perform our duties honestly, to raise our voices when systems fail. And government’s responsibility is to make sure those voices are welcomed, even when they are sharp.

The president has struck the right chords. Can we play the full tune? That depends on whether leaders deliver, whether institutions hold firm, and whether citizens demand better without fear. The music of “One Guyana” and a “Transformed Guyana” will only be real when all of us, government and governed alike, decide to play it together.

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