Jun 20, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

(Kaieteur News) – Because Pres. Ali needs the hand, I’m keeping my day job. Unpaid advisor to HE Ali. It’s a thankless gig. But for country and presidency, no sacrifice is too high. Guyana needs some standards. Plenty; with starting all over recommended. The leader gave it a shot. To the churches. Be “society’s moral compass.” And, “together, let’s find the soul of this nation.” Part of this difficult job is to whisper to the president what he doesn’t want to hear. It’s why many of his people last so long. They butter Dr. Ali up, to butter their own bread. Me, I am too old to change, too hardheaded to know better. Barging ahead, I go.

Mr. President: there can’t be any soul to find, if there never was one. Or when the souls that once were here have all migrated. Respectfully: find what, sir? Jesus tried to save some lost souls. He won some, couldn’t move the rest. Who wants to take vows of poverty, chastity, and humility? Maybe elsewhere, but not in Guyana. If that was the best Jesus recorded, best of luck, Excellency. In focusing (again) on being “society’s moral compass” I congratulate Pres. Ali for his nifty footwork. He delegated a nontransferable section of his job to the churches. Talk about resourcefulness, and it’s my pleasure to introduce Mohamed Irfaan Ali. It’s fine to forget the name. I’ll keep mentioning it.