Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, 5:26 by Written By Denis Chabrol
By GHK Lall
Pres Ali did a workmanlike job at the UN. Advocacy of the candidacy of Guyana’s own daughter, Excellency Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for UN Secretary General. Respects extended to comments about the inappropriateness of mention of her heritage. The president did well, considering this region’s indigenous history. But there’re bigger places for Pres Ali to do well. Unfortunately, he shrinks; overtaken by dread. Re the UN’s next SG, Guyanese relearned something. Guyana’s Pres Ali has to experience that same relearning. What’s related to a country’s interests.
Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett’s SG close-to-frontrunner rating took a dent. A big one, with the hefty United States outing her surge. If Pres Ali was too busy (or too restrained) to notice, I help. The U.S. prioritized its own interests. The welfare of Israel ranks highest. So, when Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett stood for Gazans, that wasn’t her personal position. It was the official position of the Guyana Government. Now she receives her own kiss of death. The Wall Street Journal gave her the first buss, a warmup of coming attractions. Gaza bared hatchets. Don’t tamper with Israel. Don’t touch the U.S.-Israel sacred bond. However small, meaningless, it may be in the bigger schemes, it counts, is remembered, returns to haunt. Whether she’s the best candidate or not, possessed the necessary merits or otherwise, all paled beside American priorities, and American obligations. All must learn.
There are several lessons for Dr. Ali in this saga swirling around Excellency Rodrigues-Birkett and her UN SG standing. Said once, saying twice: she is done. Hurts to say, but reality rules. Pres Ali should learn that what matters to the U.S. is the priority and permanency of its vital interests, strategic interests, military interests, money interests. End of sermon. So, what are Guyana’s interests, vital or otherwise? For one, PPP interests, as a party and as a government, should never rise above national interests. But who is kidding whom? Since when do party interests take a backseat? To anything? Including sovereign interests. Exposes why sanctity of contract is hallowed.
The second piece of public learning (public U.S. chastisement) for Pres Ali is that the Guyana-U.S. special relationship exists only when it enhances the U.S. Consider these. Special friendship doesn’t command expelling old friends (Cubans). Special friendship doesn’t demand acceptance at gunpoint one friend’s unwanted human liabilities; a burden to the receiving friend. The U.S. ambassador can preach. She shouldn’t try to teach. And, a special friendship doesn’t reject a friend’s sister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. Not for an official Gaza posture that was pro forma, not a difference maker. In summary, what Pres Ali must learn is that Guyana’s special friendship with the U.S. pales before America’s other extraordinary friendships. Israel transcends.
There are three other learning opportunities for Pres Ali. Easy learning for a man who shouldn’t be a dunce, despite foot-in-mouth moments, for there’s a PhD. One: the PPP Govt has its own rewarding relationship with Israel; sophisticated spyware. A pleading from Ali to Bibi Netanyahu could lead to leashing his American-based dogs. Naturally, an acceptable quid pro quo would have to be: no more Gaza, nothing inimical to Israel.
Two: Talk cheese, talk bull, talk breeze. Guyana’s interests are only vital to Guyanese. Therefore, Guyana Governments, Guyana’s leaders, only manifest exemplary commonsense, intellect, and wisdom, when they give everything to and for the paramount interests of this country. Stand and struggle. Sucking up, brownnosing, and rolling over before Exxon and America payoff the PPP, not the country. Once that self-debasement starts, there is no stopping. Surrendering is all that’s expected. Using what results. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett’s demise re UN SG provides the evidence in Cinemascope. Last, the members of the P5 (Russia uncertain) want a bigger footprint in Guyana. Savvy leaders navigate and exploit that interest for their country’s interests. Bartering is bigger than before. Except it is now called diplomacy, statesmanship, and negotiation.
