Rampant mismanagement: Dr. Ali mismanaged himself, failed Guyana

Rampant mismanagement: Dr. Ali mismanaged himself, failed Guyana

OPINION BY: GHK LALL September 2026

Pres Ali’s Al-Jazeera self-embarrassment is over.  In this postmortem of an international tragedy, I offer free counsel to Dr. Ali: from scripture: physician, heal thyself first.

Yesterday, it was Al-Jazeera.  Tomorrow probably the BBC, New York Times, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal.  Guyana’s oil wealth generates media excitements.  Corporate prospects reported, stock prices spiral.  Pres Ali’s duty is to represent this country frankly, comprehensively, authoritatively.  When he speaks on Al-Jazeera, his substance must flourish, grab worldwide attention.  Unfortunately, the shallow side of Pres Ali emerged in the worst way.

Leader of the Opposition.  Relevance?  The question centered on “rampant mismanagement” around cascades of crude cash in Guyana.  Crude it is, and crude was Guyana’s Ali.  Opening to be grabbed to extol the virtues of clean PPP governance, and Ali’s grandeur.  I guide.

First, claims about “rampant mismanagement” aren’t factual.  Because the Ali Govt recruited highly skilled, highly professional auditors.  They follow the oil money trail wherever it goes.  No sacred cows.  They track oil money diligently, Mr. Al-Jazeera; audit findings are quickly published.  Every Guyanese is informed on how their inheritance is managed.  What basis for rampant mismanagement when full disclosure reigns?

Second, if the political opposition must be mentioned, then Pres Ali could have informed the world how the vast State media machinery, under his control operates.  Limited free time and unlimited paid time for full expression of opposition postures.  Government’s policies and practices criticized.  When not so, Pres Ali grasped at straws and clutched froth.  How can rampant mismanagement survive in such an open environment?

Third, “rampant mismanagement” infers out-of-control corruption.  Pres Ali had opportunity to broadcast globally that he promised an anticorruption czar, appointed one.  No PPP Govt flunkey or toady.  But one extracted from civil society and known for unbending integrity and independence.  Further, the work of the anticorruption untouchable can be dissected by every Guyanese, plus illegal immigrants and Venezuelans.

Fourth, when those two loaded, explosive, words (rampant mismanagement) surfaced on Al-Jazeera, Pres Ali could have imitated Lee Kwan Yew.  Ministers, insiders, of the PPP Govt who have been tested, found wanting, are now living life sentences.  He could have offered names, as his testimonials on dealing with rampant mismanagement aka massive corruption.  Since Pres Ali was emptyhanded, he had one escape valve left: distraction and deviation via the Hon Opposition Leader.  He is a monument to PPP Govt mis(management) when honorable attaches.  One giant step, a great leap upward, for the Opposition Leader.

Fifth, the chickens come home.  No roosting, mostly haunting.  Pres Ali cut a haunted figure: a man who gained the world, but lost his marbles.  He slashed air.  He searched for bricks to hurl; threw bubbles.  The Al-Jazeera interviewer mentally brushing off the lapels of his Savile Row suit.  An empowered Pres Ali could have noted the Access to Information Act.  A law obeyed religiously; everything permissible accessible.  Because Excellency Ali ignores that law, rampant mismanagement isn’t ventilated.  It’s given a new skirt branded transparency.

Sixth, rampant mismanagement can’t breathe, when constitutional and democracy’s watchdogs are muscular, vigilant, and on the job.  Given free rein to perform.  When it’s not so, there’s that pounding, exposing Al-Jazeera question.  Word gets out.

Seventh, rampant mismanagement isn’t addressed, resolved, when VP Jagdeo holds a séance at Arthur Chung (smiles slyly sideways).  Got them, again.  Rampant mismanagement managed slickly.

Eight, rampant mismanagement is given its best testimony when Pres Ali drives his people out of their beds for a predawn beating.  Only for regular business returning.  Try the untried.  Assets seized.  Corrupt contractors jailed.  Failed REOs and PSs paraded in stripes around the National Stadium.  Rampant mismanagement admitted.  Real action taken.

Ninth, when there’s a productive parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, Pres Ali could have educated Al-Jazeera’s audience on how rampant mismanagement of oil money is exposed by his cooperating PPP Govt.  He couldn’t.

Tenth, since the PPP Govt has neutralized all these protective checks and balances, all he had left was Opp Leader (misplaced); budget process (tainted); spending process (obscured); and an audit process (mocked).

Instead of Dr. Ali healing himself, the president ended up hurting himself.  He mismanaged himself on Al-Jazeera before the whole world.