The incompetence of Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali, is palpable. His ceding of power to Bharat Jagdeo, his Vice President reeks of fear, weakness, and a trajectory towards inevitable failure. As the country grapples with crisis after crisis, President Ali remains silent, his worst decision being the appointment of Bharrat Jagdeo as Vice President. Jagdeo, a man living under a cloud of massive corruption allegations, continues to do everything seemingly possible to tank Ali’s presidency. Everyday we hear allegations that Jagdeo is under international investigation for various crimes. Yet, he continues to take the lead, issuing orders that perpetuate inequality, racism and massive poverty in Guyana. Jagdeo is a man who intends to exert control over every component of Guyana. He allegedly decides who should receive contracts, which entities oil companies and the private sector should support, who should get land, and who shouldn’t and who should be denied all opportunities due to every citizen of Guyana.
Half the country lives in poverty, food prices are skyrocketing, government officials and entire agencies are under investigation, the police force is rife with corruption, and the rich are getting richer while relief remains a distant dream. In the face of this, President Ali’s silence is bewildering and downright damning.
Ali’s tenure is marked by an unsettling passivity. He sits silent as everything around him falls apart, seemingly afraid or unwilling to confront the rot within his administration. His choice of Bharrat Jagdeo as Vice President has proven disastrous. Jagdeo, an alleged corrupt man, continues to harbor corrupt individuals and people of questionable character.
In public appearances, Ali often seems mute and spineless, particularly when facing national crises such as the Guyana-Venezuela border issue, the influx of migrants, or the damning Vice News interview with Jagdeo and Isobel Yeong. Instead of addressing these critical issues head-on, Ali allows Jagdeo to hijack the narrative, spinning it wildly out of control while Ali himself flits across stages, breaking into dance routines more suited to street festivals than the presidential stage.
The question we need to ask is whether Guyana’s President is complicit in the corruption charges leveled at his government or at the Mohameds, or is he perhaps a victim of his own incompetence and cowardice? Although silent in the face of his government’s corruption, he saves his anger and constant outbursts for those who cannot retaliate– regular citizens, journalists, public service workers. This behavior only highlight his unstable temperament, casting doubt on his ability to lead the nation through these turbulent times.
The signs of a presidency in disarray are unmistakable. Government corruption is rampant, with officials entangled in scandals and bribery. The police force is corrupt, poverty is widespread, and the socio-economic divide grows ever wider. Yet, Ali remains eerily silent, his inaction suggesting either complicity or complete helplessness.
Our nation needs intelligent, strong, decisive leadership, not a figurehead who cowers in the shadow of a corrupt vice president. The people of Guyana deserve better. They deserve a leader who will stand up to corruption, not one who dances while the country burns.