Dear Editor,

LAST week, the Democratic National Convention ended with Joe Biden accepting nomination as their Presidential candidate and Kamla Harris as his running mate, challenging Donald Trump as the next USA president. There were many takeaways from the convention which were previously highlighted, and today there is a focus, zoning in on the requirements of what are expected to mold the president as enumerated by the former First Lady, Michelle Obama, and relevant to guiding the success of Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali also.

She said, “The job is hard; it requires clearheaded judgement, a mastery of complex and competing issues, a devotion to facts and history, a moral compass and an ability to listen. And an abiding belief that each of the 330 million lives in this country has meaning and worth. A president’s words have the power to move markets. They can start wars or broker peace. They can summon our better angels or awaken our worst instincts. You must display a total and utter placement of empathy. You simply cannot fake your way through this job.”

Indeed, Dr. Irfaan Ali has an uphill task to preside over a diversified nation that is carrying a scar from racial imbalances and discrimination, fueled and fertilised by the previous administration, and compounded by a bankrupt Treasury. The task is far from being easy, especially embroiled with COVID-19, and he must remain sober- headed to exercise impartial judgement to unite a divided people, and resolve the economic woes that are so challenging and humongous. His performance always has to scrutinise a bitter past, flavoured with criminal activity in the society, bearing in mind that his predecessors have been branded with so many corruptions, and their ability to lie their way was detrimental to the health of the nation. And today, they are an emblem of dishonesty. He will be well advised to remain in touch with the grassroots who are suffering with poverty, and to have an open mind while paying attention to feedbacks from the man-in-the- street. His inauguration speech did endorse the value of each Guyanese, requesting each person to come on board for nation building, to give each person a chance to grow from a small man to a real man, and really live the good life that was denied them by the APNU+AFC Party. The First Lady and the President himself have the characteristics to touch the soul of everyone. Their words can move mountains, and remove stumbling blocks. From both sides of the fence, they are thought of as fair, and desiring only what is best for the entire Guyana; treating all equally, and their compassion resonate with sincerity. The president’s stature demands that he stands firm and resolute, compact as a rock on the surface, and delicate as a flower inwardly. The First Lady’s job is inclusive of maintaining the equilibrium that will balance the scale of demand and supply in a justified way.

Michelle Obama was right when she said that getting the message across is difficult because of the hate mongers. Many tried to penetrate racial strife within a peaceful nation, and wanted to instigate violence as a consequence of being unable to attain power illegitimately. Those perpetrators must be seen as permanent outcasts to our society, and must never be allowed to contaminate the purity of innocent ones who are fragile to adulterated convolution. Such volatility must be curbed and extinguished from inception, and a safe-net measure must be cast to prevent its repetition. Guyanese from all walks of life must be cognizant of future mischief, and remain alert to recognise any such birth, discouraging and refusing its spread. The ERC has to awaken from its slumber with a more meaningful perspective, while being more aggressive, vigilant and assertive in its role, so that discrimination can be eliminated in a faster and effective approach. Any “laid back” attitude has to be revolutionized; its function has to be more proactive; its critique has to be vociferous and exercised with initiative. Guyanese are basically a God fearing people, and have to be honest with themselves. They can no longer feign pretense, and have to admit to the facts being established daily, confirming in a convincing way the monstrosities that deprived the poor Guyanese of a decent way of life. It is glaringly obvious that the minute the APNU+AFC Party took office in 2015, they established a clear track that is punctuated with embezzlements and misappropriations that suited their personal agenda, and completely left out the interest of the struggling man-in-the-street. This was a routine procedure up until the last minute when they demitted office.

If there is one message that Guyanese can grasp from Michelle Obama’s speech, it is that Guyanese must now act in a way as if their life depends on each of their personal action. That is so true, because, by doing only what is right, they can be saved from the pandemic. They can unite Guyana from ethnic indifferences; their children can be saved from becoming criminals; the children can be educated; lawlessness and vulgarity can be eliminated; Guyana’s development can be bigger, better and faster.
Guyanese will not be fooled again; violence will not be condoned, and peace will prevail for a united nation, and progress will attribute to a profitable and equitable distribution for all to enjoy.

Respectfully,
Jai Lall