Jul 06, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

(Kaieteur News) – President Ali is a disappointment. A bigger and bigger one, sadly. No learning from slippages. Barging ahead, unthinkingly. Blame rests on his advisers, handlers. Their duty is to protect the president. From himself. It was the Fourth. Not an ordinary one. But the soaring, sprawling celebration of 250 years of cherished American liberty. U.S. Ambassador, Excellency Nicole D. Theriot had her say, said it well. On taking the podium, Guyana’s Pres. Ali started out on the right foot, then his compass gyrated. A stumbling came. Rather ghastly, I think. Sullying an extraordinary moment. Imperiling to the ambience of more delicate sensibilities. Foreign ones mostly; local ones faded way back.

“In Guyana today, we are accustomed to seeing people walk on examples and still criticise.” Seriously, Excellency? Was that really necessary, Mr. President? Throwing a tantrum, stamping feet, before assembled guests of the ambassador (and Guyana, also). Unseeming, ungracious, and uncouth. Disturbingly so. I try with my president. Efforts to set him on the right path are usually brushed off, mocked. It’s why the people who come from what Guyanese call the ‘outside’ look down their noses on the natives. President Ali may lull himself into thinking that he is excluded from such a putdown. He would be shocked. Foreigners humour him because of Guyana’s oil kingdom. He is a keyholder.