Dear Editor,
IT would seem that some so-called intellectuals will use their pens and their mouths to criticise and condemn anyone whom they do not support to the point of attempting to make a mockery of those peoples’ cultures and religions. One such person is GHK Lall and this gentleman’s hate for the President and the government is being manifested in all his columns in an effort to spew venom in all directions. We must decipher Lall’s innuendos and connotative meanings in his writings to get to his true intention.
In his column in the Kaieteur News on 17th July, he tried to ridicule President Irfaan Ali for dressing in the traditional Arab wear. He wrote an entire paragraph trying to make a mockery of the President, referring to his dress as ‘pretensive and overdone.’ Imagine the lack of respect for the President when Lall described him as the ‘head of a caravan’ and ‘Ali Baba’ and this exhibits also the lack of respect for the Saudi Arab delegation by transporting Arabia way back in civilisation, back to the Arabians Nights era. Both of these terms are related to Arabs’ history and the undertone of the writing is indicative of the aversion Lall holds for Muslims as a whole, implying that they are still primitive. Did the President’s mode of dress detract from the delivery of his presentation or the business at hand? It is difficult to fathom the level to which some people would stoop to condemn the cultures and the religions of others and score cheap points.
Lall’s ingenuous use of the President’s attire as a ‘token of fraternal identification’ exposes this attempt to condemn the President as a Muslim, since he then referred to this as ‘ a piece of gaudy showmanship.’ Is Lall saying that all Muslims who dressed in that manner are guilty of ‘gaudy showmanship’? Turbans, fezes and kaffiyeh are all worn by Muslim men, not necessarily Arabs only, and they not only have cultural significance but religious as well. Lall knew that, that day was Eid-ul-Adha and the President as a Muslim was so dressed to observe that auspicious occasion with his fellow Muslim brothers from Saudi Arabia as well. If Lall had visited some of the mosques on that day he would have observed that many Muslims had donned such ‘tokens of fraternal identification’ because of spiritual reasons and the oneness they felt on such occasions and not to be a spectacle of ‘gaudy showmanship.’ Lall has not only insulted the President, but he has insulted the entire Muslim community. There is a limit to what can be tolerated from writers who insult the culture and religion of others. This was most insensitive and must be condemned by all.
There are numerous examples where Heads of State would dress in the cultural wear of the country they are visiting. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his entire family dressed in Indian fashion when they visited India on three occasions; Prime Minister Modi of India wears suits when he visits the US. I have seen photos of Presidents George Bush, Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin among others dressed as Chinese and other Asians when they visited those countries.
I am proud of President Ali and must profusely congratulate him in displaying acceptance of all cultures and religions and this has been ongoing (he has done this for Hindus spiritual leaders as well); hence, for Lall to make such disparaging remarks is unbecoming of an intellectual. It exposes his downright pettiness.
Fortunately, not many persons read GHK Lall’s column, so the level of contamination of his toxic utterings is minimal.

Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf