Dear Editor
WELL, in Irfaan Ali’s few allowed public statements, he has made some utterances that are very questionable. In fact, both their premises are utter lies and fabrications. Stop here a minute! Yes, lies and fabrications? What do we expect from a politician who still, on his own account, cannot honestly clarify for the nation questions about his academic background, and who, as recently as a few days ago, was as evasive as to the ‘universities’– their claimed origins?

In fact, for Ali to have been instructed by his party leader and master, reported in a section of the print media some time ago, not to answer any questions pertaining to his qualifications, while the former would be away, speaks volumes not only of Ali’s asinine profile, but also to the disrespect shown to the nation at large. But editor, such is the traditionally known behaviour of puppets; in this instance, political puppets – never intended to be durable; not real. How can they be when they do not really exist, and were not made to be, except at the behest of their masters? In Ali’s scripted role, he is not supposed to exist. Only be seen and not be heard; except that whenever he seems to be allowed to speak, it is repeating the traditional Jagdeo fare of unsubstantiated claims, compliments of dodgy politics, of which Ali now occupies a juxtaposed centre stage, not real or definably, fronting for a grave threat to this nation.

It cannot be that Ali does not understand that all leaders, particularly those who aspire to national leadership that they automatically place themselves in the public domain for reasons of public scrutiny and transparency. For Ali’s further pretence of not knowing this prerequisite of public scrutiny, or of flagrant disregard and disrespect for the role of the body politic in choice of their leaders, is as unconvincing as a shoplifter caught in the act, and it is therefore another clear example of a political party and its well-known leadership that continues its brazen assault on the nation’s right to choose leaders who can stand scrutiny.

For Ali to accuse the PNC/R of “practising dirty politics’’, because of its full-page advertisement that questions his academic certification; his criminal cases still pending before the court, which makes fora highly dubious personal profile, which asks questions of his suitability for the nation’s highest office, not forgetting the fact that all of the these are of his own making. It cannot be a case of ‘’dirty politics’’ when what has been highlighted in the advertisements are genuine issues, supported by credible facts, and continues to be in the public domain and for which Ali has so far failed to satisfactorily provide answers, especially on his academic certification. Every nation has the right to question its leaders on any matter of personal propriety. And that includes Ali.

This particular Ali scandal underlines the great moral dilemma of this country, that had caused it to become an entrepot of state criminality and unchecked corruption of which his indictment in the Pradoville matter is a glaring example. The fact that he has been declared persona non grata in Canada underlines how a leading member of the international community views politicians with such shady records. One wonders whether Ali believes that such a decision is also of a ‘’dirty politics’’ nature?

Regards
Aditya Panday