AS I write this letter, millions of people in Ukraine are spending the Christmas holiday without water, electricity and heat. This has resulted from the war in Ukraine which continues to rage on, following the invasion by Russia some 10 months ago.

I will refrain from commenting on who or which side or sides are to be blamed for the war, except to say that the war has had, and continue to have a disruptive impact on the global economy and have resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, innumerable casualties and millions of displaced people. In addition, infrastructure worth billions of dollars were destroyed as a consequence of the war.

It is time to bring this devastation to an end. The solution cannot be found on the battlefield but through diplomacy and negotiations. The situation has already reached a stage where there are threats of nuclear attacks, the consequences of which could be catastrophic.

As we observe the festive season of Christmas and the dawn of the new year, there could be no better time to give peace a chance.
I wish to take this opportunity to wish all Guyanese a happy Christmas!

Yours truly,
Hydar Ally