Dear Editor

WITHIN the national boundaries of Guyana, colourful birds nest in radiant flowering and wild fruit trees flourishing along the banks of rivers, canals, and creeks that flow with awe-inspiring grace towards the Atlantic Ocean, – all ushering in serenity that has become commonplace experiences of residents and visitors alike.

In this picturesque atmosphere of nature’s varied splendor, Guyana’s population of six races/ethnicities, interact daily with civility, and an ever-increasing harmony that critics of the current government seek daily to disrupt, and rupture, for fear of being relegated into the abyss of irrelevance.

These anti-government individuals, and groups, preoccupied with acquiring influence and power, utilise every means available to ignite disharmony among the population.

From their various media platforms, lofty perches, or secured economic bunkers, they hock their trades of manufacturing and marketing falsehoods, fomenting strife, or inciting indifference and distrust by targeting denunciations against the President, and/or Vice-President. Among the chronic anti-government complainers is GHK Lall.

Those of you who have listened to GHK’s digital video pontifications, or read articles written by him, would readily discover that his anti-government remarks seldom, if at all, address weaknesses in developmental policy promulgations and implementations.

Neither does his frequent soliloquies offer how his formulations would better serve in the interest of the country, or improve, and enhance, the daily lives of all Guyanese.

In addition, one would realise that GHK’s anti-government complaints rarely present accurate, verifiable and valid evidence that facilitate rigorous scrutiny. Frequently focused on generating indifference and divisiveness, his denunciations regularly run counter to the policy initiatives, and actions, undertaken by the government to establish an enduring unity and safety of Guyana’s multicultural, multiethnic population – especially in the face of recurring threats by Venezuela.

Take, for example GHK’s recent article entitled “Preferential treatment for America, but what about Guyana?” (3/29/25). In it, he questioned whether President Ali handed “the whole of Guyana over to the USA, while affixing the cool label of ‘different and preferential treatment’ to it?”

Apparently unsure, GHK asked again whether “President Ali and the PPP Government [outdid] its rival, by giving away all of Guyana.” As if by some sort of epiphany, he then said, “Thanks to Pres. Ali and the PPP Government, Guyana has just reentered the province of a bona fide slave state… It’s over. Guyana has surrendered its right to be a country controlling its own destiny.”

Perhaps GHK fancies himself a clairvoyant, an expert on “bona fide slave states,” and an adept psychoanalyst of Ali’s thoughts and behaviours. Yet, he struggled to meaningfully phrase his questions, and thereafter proceeded to answer them without providing an iota of valid evidence to support his ludicrous claims. How’s that for anti-government propaganda?

The acuity with which President Ali demonstrated concern about Guyana’s national security should not be overlooked or underplayed. And, that he sought to formalise security arrangements with the US indicates pragmatism and astuteness, especially since Guyana, with less than a million citizens, is known to be incapable, and inadequately equipped to defend itself against such aggressors as Venezuela’s Maduro.

Instead of attacking President Ali, GHK could have benefitted from being self-informed on the Paraguayan War of 1864-1870, chronicled by Leslie Bethell, and mentioned by the Brazilian novelist Machado de Assis in his book, “Philosopher or Dog.”

As history indicates, then Paraguayan dictator Franco Solano Lopez sought to expand his economic and military power, and increase his influence over the region. Bethell explains that “The Paraguayan War (1864-70) began formally with declarations of war by Paraguay’s dictator Francisco Solano Lopez, first on the Empire of Brazil in December 1864, then on the Argentine Republic in March 1865, followed by invasions of their territories. With the signing of a Treaty of Triple Alliance (May 1865) it became a war waged by Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay for the destruction of Paraguay. The Paraguayan War, or War of the Triple Alliance, was the longest and bloodiest inter-state war in the history of Latin America.”

This brings us to the question as to who will support Guyana against the expansionist threats of the erratic Maduro? To this question, GHK fails to provide an answer except to question,

“What is Guyana getting in return, other than a Big Brother to stand for it against Venezuelan hostility …” Wow! Such pathetic exemplification of myopia, and warped understanding of today’s geopolitics, international relations, and hemispheric alliances.

Interestingly, nowhere in his article did GHK present his solution in preserving Guyana’s national security. Nor did he produce, or cite, any valid evidence to substantiate his claim that Ali ‘gave away Guyana’ to America.

Perhaps GHK could have availed himself of gaslighting by apprehending these memorable words of poet John Donne, “No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main,” – words that impressed the acclaimed author Ernest Hemmingway that he quoted them in his book, “For whom the Bell Tolls,” which focuses on the Spanish Civil War.

In sum, GHK’s article awakens us that: Daily within the Guyana’s national borders, dogs bark, donkeys bray, monkeys chatter, pigs grunt, horses neigh, roosters crow, owls hoot, snakes hiss etc.

Could it be that these are illustrative of the varied anti-government din aimed at disrupting, or rupturing, the increasing harmony and unity unfolding among Guyanese of all ethnicities? Perhaps, GHK, and anti-government devotees, could learn from George Orwell’s novel “Animal Farm” – a story in which Napolean, the pig, led the farm animals in a revolt only to become a totalitarian dictator after overthrowing farmer Jones, the animals’ human master. One wonders!

Regards,

Narayan Persaud, PhD

Professor Emeritus