By Dr. Vishnu Bisram

AN informal opinion poll conducted by this writer reveals that Prime Minister Mark Phillips and the ministerial delegation that he led on the US visit earlier this month was very well received. He was viewed favourably by everyone I interviewed for an informal poll. The Prime Minister and the ministerial and investment delegation visited the Miami area as well as the greater New York area.

The Prime Minister and his ministerial team (Collin Croal from Housing, Gail Teixeira from Parliamentary Affairs, and Oneidge Walrond Allicock of Tourism) received very high ratings with everyone, including critics and supporters of PNC (and APNU) praising him.

In Miami, the team interacted with investors and Guyanese diaspora. In NY, the Prime Minister, along with his delegation, was hosted at several receptions and engaged the diaspora on investment at several meetings, in addition to giving an update on the situation at home.

He and the delegation also visited several Mandirs and Churches and engaged leaders of the Islamic community as well as members of non-religious organisations.  They were given a very cordial welcome everywhere. Head of Go-INVEST, Peter Ramsaroop and Minister Oneidge did not visit New York with the Prime Minister as they were recalled home to prepare for the President’s impending state visit to Dubai.

In speeches everywhere, Prime Minister Mark Phillips repeatedly urged people to celebrate “our diversity and oneness of Guyana” for which he was cheered and saluted.

Every Guyanese this writer interviewed gave the Prime Minister as well as the delegation a thumbs up similar to their response to the visit by the President and Vice-President to New York in September. No one interviewed had any unfavourable things to say about the Prime Minister. Even in Brooklyn, the Prime Minister and his delegation were cordially received with the Prime Minister engaging a handful of detractors and shaking hands with them, telling them “we are all one Guyanese” and that the PPP/C-led government is promoting the concept of one Guyana.

Guyanese in the diaspora were/are very pleased with the visit, praising the Prime Minister and his team for the engagement. In spite of COVID, there was much enthusiasm to meet the Prime Minister with relatively large gatherings in attendance at every event but with anti-COVID protocols observed.

Those who interacted with or followed the Prime Minister on social media said they were most impressed with his remarks, humility, style, and mannerism and his respect for other people’s faith.

The Prime Minister was described by the diaspora as warm, friendly, humble, polite, affable, articulate, and respectable. Congregants at the places of worship flocked the Prime Minister and the Ministers (Croal and Teixeira) for photo. Worshippers lined up to take pictures with the Prime Minister – a measure of the warmth exuded towards him at the mandirs and elsewhere.

At the Tulsi Mandir in Richmond Hill, the Prime Minister and Minister Croal and other members of the delegation sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor listening in rapt attention to Pandit Lakheram Maraj as he delivered his religious discourse during that auspicious period of Navratri. Humility is the embodiment of Hinduism and the congregation was very impressed by the behaviour and behaviour of the Prime Minister, Minister Croal, and Joe Yussuf, and other dignitaries fitting in with the rest of the congregation.

Prime Minister Phillips remarks on unity in diversity and the government’s support for religious and cultural freedom of all groups were well received. People were very pleased to hear the Prime Minister say that the PPP/C Government does not discriminate in employment practices or in any other aspects of governance. He reiterated: “We are a government of and for all groups.

National policies are geared towards the prosperity of all.” Towards this end, the Prime Minister embraced a well-known perennial critic of the PPP in Brooklyn, telling him and other detractors, “We all have to work towards the improvement of Guyana.”

The Brooklyn-based Guyana America Chamber of Commerce was also very receptive of the Prime Minister and praised his leadership style, saying it was honoured to host and welcome the Prime Minister. The organisation had hosted Phillip’s predecessor before the March 2020 election which was won by the PPP/C, the party to which Mr. Phillips is affiliated.