Boycott- duh fuh duh nah obyah

Sep 18, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

(Kaieteur News) – The Hon Speaker of the House started the ball rolling. The wrong way. Neither time nor space for opposition in parliament. For months after the September elections, the machinery of parliamentary democracy couldn’t get cranking. The white people had to intervene so Guyana’s coloured people could get in order, start behaving.

Then the president of this Republic consistently brushed off meeting with the Leader of the Opposition. Just the courtesy; some reminiscing about good times gone; inspired tax discussions. The official stuff would come later. Now the same president who turned his back to the opposition, now has a turn of heart and turns his face in welcome.

Guyanese say duh fuh duh nah gat obyah. Plenty other ingredients, but none of that business. I operate differently: turn the other cheek. Forgive, forget, flow forward. When it’s always an eye for an eye, then One Guyana has one destiny: ending up like the Middle East. Vengeance is mine. May the last man standing understand what he has left to govern. That is, if there’s strength remaining to govern, when wounds need urgent attention.

Amid, the opposition rejection of Pres. Ali’s invitation (more of a summons), I must inform His Excellency that he brought this upon his head. Presidents set standards. Presidents exhibit courage under duress. Presidents manifest class, without return expected. Pres. Ali has disappointed everytime. Worse, he deceives himself. Did well in all three categories. Is de prezzie, wah fuh expect? It’s what Guyanese say, which says everything. The opposition was gentle: ‘unstructured.’ I think he is untimely, ungainly, and topsy-turvy. A whole year after victory in the last elections and this is the state of the State; the state of the presidency. To the Opposition I say this. Rejection confirms groups will not be taken for dishcloth or doormat. Nor taken for granted. Be receptive the next time.

To inspire, Pres. Ali has to cut through the raw, vulgar, brutish politics. Pres. Ali takes the first step at the first opportunity. Push back hospitality with Qataris. Deal with one’s own house first. Get it into some state of working order. The EU Ambassador, the US Ambassador, and other ambassadors have their own priorities, and not occupy themselves with changing the PPP Govt.’s leadership diapers whenever a mess is made of Guyana. Pres. Ali cannot talk about One Guyana and treat the WIN people as though they are some Loch Ness monster out of Guyana’s swamps. Pres. Ali cannot be the crass contradiction of waxing dreamily about democracy, then projecting a dictator’s attributes. Pres. Ali would do well to appreciate this caring counsel: His Excellency is not His Majesty. His high office does not elevate him to the stature of His Royal Highness. Could be his mixing with those sheiks, emirs, Crown Princes, and assorted beach bums has given him the wrong ideas. He says he respects the Constitution. Pres. Ali must show how much he is bound to it. Give the opposition deference. Deference!

Calling committee people to gather before him because suddenly he is of a mind to do so will not attract a swooning audience. This isn’t his court held at Leonora, the Providence Stadium, or Babu John. Thus, it stalls, falls. NO! to meeting. NO! to monarchy. NO! to that royal fellow arriving next month. NO! to bright ideas about coronating King Ali the Weak and Woeful here. Pres. Ali should get it into his head that not because he rings a bell that the opposition would jump and rush to pay homage at his feet (in imitation of Pavlov’s cur). Mohamed “the Mandarin” Ali is out. Irfaan ‘the Immortal’ Ali is a nonstarter.

Starter over Mr. Ali. Humble thyself. Do the right thing. Be a servant of the Guyanese people. Respect the opposition. Respect will be delivered in return. If Pres Ali is serious about One Guyana, I just presented him with the recipe free of charge. When Pres Ali refrains from disrespecting his office, others will respect him. I would be the first.

(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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