Caribbean L 8 ife, OCTOBER 1-7, 2021
Fazal (Joe) Yussuff, MPA, Investment & Diaspora Affairs, Consulate
General of Guyana, NY, Guyana’s President, Mohamad Iraafan Ali, and VP
Bharatt Jagadeo during a business forum at the Hilton Hotel JFK. Photo by
Tangerine Clarke
Guyanese prez tells nationals to
seize opportunities in homeland
By Tangerine Clarke
President of Guyana, Mohamed
Irfaan Ali, during a business forum at
the Hilton Hotel JFK on Sept. 24, called
on diasporans to put their energies
toward opportunity, and not negativity,
saying, “we are ready to work with you,
knock on the door, the opportunities
are there, and we want you to be a part
of it. I am very proud of members of
the diaspora, who came and expressed
interest in investing in Guyana.”
The head-of-state, who addressed the
76th Session of the United Nations General
Assembly recently, was forced to
host three forums instead of one, due to
ongoing coronavirus restrictions, and
was quick to dismiss what he called
false narrative that “seeks to divide us
and take us apart.”
“I thank all of you for being here.
This is my first trip since the elections,
and because of all the work you would
have done, and your support of democracy,
ensuring that the rule of law prevailed,
the people in Guyana and the
diaspora are stronger, better and more
unified.”
He said, instead of being negative,
Guyanese should embrace a forward,
progressive agenda that will take Guyanese,
whether black or brown, united
as one, equally towards the future.
He said his government is ready to
support investment and will provide
and enable infrastructure, calling on
Guyanese to move away from the mindset
of investing individually, since many
investments in Guyana need large capital.
He advised, consortium and partnership
would be well suited to the huge
opportunities available in the Republic.
“We will pay to have Guyanese trained
in specialized ISO certified welding, and
build agro-processing plants, to enable
these opportunities,” he said, sharing
that US Mount Sinai Health System,
has expressed an interest in building a
specialized hospital, that would provide
primary healthcare, and preventative
health. The government will also partner
with the institution to create a “One
Health” medical card.
Using the Guyana American school,
as an example on how investments
are urgently needed, the politician said
the fee per term has increased from
GY$3000, to GY27,000, because of supply
and demand, and encouraged Guyanese
to invest in education.
“You can’t sit back and follow the
negative conversation that is taking
place,” he said, and lambasted some
nationals who have been peddling false
information about Guyana.
He said crime is on the decline and
his government is addressing it, whether
small, petty or large.
“We are working on an IT network
to use cameras in crime fighting, and
outfitting policemen with bodycams,
for transparency,” Ali said.
Noting that many things are happening
at the same time that will create
an exciting environment for a future of
a sustainable prosperity for Guyanese,
the politician who said the People’s
Progressive Party is focused on social
development, addressed claims that his
government is giving handouts.
“I find this statement to be very
obnoxious. It is not handouts. In every
society there is a gap, and we have to
find ways in bridging that gap so that
we could have equitable development
to prevent the widening of disparity in
lower and higher income. That is the
rule of a government and a way of keeping
balance in society,” explained the
president.
Ali, who was accompanied by Vice
President Bharrat Jagdeo, and Robert
Persaud, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
& Int. Corporation, and Fazal (Joe)
Yussuff, MPA, Investment & Diaspora
Affairs at the Consulate General of Guyana
to New York at the head table, said
there was an enthusiasm for building a
new city, and assures that the plan will
look at different models akin to those in
Rwanda and Dubai, being pursued by
investment companies.
NO STOPPING