Strong moral renewal, building character

Oct 24, 2025 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

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Hard Truths by GHK Lall

(Kaieteur News) – Often, I believe that Pres. Ali says whatever he feels sounds good, or grows overly fond of repeating whatever is stuffed into his hands.  The venue was the commissioning of the Cummings Lodge Water Treatment Plant on Saturday last.  Now grab onto hats, hold onto seats, and absorb the president’s noble sounding words served on a gold-plated platter.  “Guyana’s transformation is not just about roads and bridges.  It’s about building citizens of character -people with strong moral grounding, discipline, and purpose.”  I thought that the PPP Govt and leadership used to have a good laff when I shared such thoughts.  But there was the president taking my gospel and claiming ownership.  When I insisted that there must be the trying of such teaching, his own people mocked and rocked: he preechin’.  But there was Dr. Ali lecturing a flock of the devoted about “character” and “moral grounding.”  There must have been an eclipse happening last Saturday.

For those sitting back in anticipation of a trashing of Pres. Ali; they will have a long interval of sitting and waiting.  The people in Pres. Ali’s PPP Govt. can bash unjustifiably.  However, I refuse to retaliate with a lash, even when right is the corner owned; when there is a monopoly over truths and facts.  But what I do say is that this is an upside-down country, everything in reverse order.  Gently, it is said.  I refrain from asserting publicly that Guyana’s president is not the best example of what he preaches.  What is simply said is that he should leave that kind of talk to others, those who can represent it.  Those standing on steel.  An example or two should help Guyanese see clearly.

It would have been the most fulsome, most powerful example of the character and moral grounding of which Pres. Ali now speaks with such breathtaking ease, if he had stepped forward with a word or two when some Guyanese were unceremoniously dispatched (kicked out) from a vehicle when on the way to attending a political competitor’s campaign rally.  One word: apologies.  Then two – I’m sorry.  Then three: this isn’t me.  My character doesn’t allow it, condone it.  I condemn it and it would never happen again.  Guyanese are still waiting for such a development.

The second example is personal.  Pres. Ali and his people-senior and junior, fanatical and fair-minded-know that they have nothing on me.  Yet they keep trying.  What does that say of a government that is so bent on getting even with one man, and getting him out of the way?  I should get in the face of Pres. Ali and say: how so, sir?  Why does this have to be so, chief?  To prove what, milord?  That the PPP Govt has the power, and that it will use that power however it must to achieve the worst of ends?  And even when the immoral and unethical and characterless all have to take centerstage?  To His Excellency, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, kindly and gently I say: leave that territory where morality and character reign to the few who know what they mean, embrace their demands.  Enough with the examples, for the point is registered.  There are other words of unasked for advice that I give freely, and with the best of intentions to the president, my president.

“I have asked cabinet to work on a program to engage our churches, mosques and temples on…a plan for civic and moral education…to build quality citizens in Guyana.”  This is how the best laid plans of mice and men go to mush.  Sad to say, but it is the hardest of hard truths.  The churches, mosques and temples are often led by some of the more grasping, hypocritical, and spiritual ostriches whose heads are buried deeply into the sand.  Not all, but too many.  The lure of oil money and the prestige of being on the good side of those who reward them with generosity is how spiritual shepherds have sold their souls, and misled their flocks.  The people in the pews look for faithful leaders and they get farces hustling for themselves, positioning themselves for their fat slice of local wealth.  Start over, Dr. President, is my heartfelt counsel.

I agree with the president that “religious leaders have long served as moral anchors.”  Aye, aye, sir!  But those days are long gone.  The few moral religious leaders, men and women of character, left represents an endangered species, a group that is marked, if they were to speak out of turn, not get with the program.  The result is that, mostly, what Guyanese believers have is a group of quacks and cons that take them for a ride, and charge them for the experience.  Please begin again, sir.  Start with the nearest figure that should stand as the first model, example.

(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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• building character, GHK Lall, moral renewal

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