Pushing… Guyana

In your Eyewitness’ estimation, if there’s one word that describes President Ali, it’s “peripatetic” – which means “going from one place to another constantly”!! It’s of Greek origin and is associated with Aristotle’s habit of walking around as he taught his students, who were then dubbed “Peripatetics”!! Pressie’s perambulations are tied to his drive to develop Guyana by personally engaging persons from all walks of life and circumstances to motivate them to get with his Government’s developmental programme!!
So here he is in NYC, along with 130 other world leaders, for the 81st annual UN General Assembly Debate!! And, as is his wont, he used the opportunity while waiting his turn to push Guyana’s profile as a candidate for development!! He met with the head of the US-EXIM Bank, which had signed a US$2 billion MoU initial framework back in July 2022 to facilitate US exports and infrastructure development!!
Now this was a landmark development, showing that in going head-to-head with China to oust them from the hemisphere economically as well as militarily, the Yanks were putting their money where their mouth is!! Last year they’d plunked down US$527 million to finance the US company finishing off the GtE project at Wales!!
Well after the meeting, Pressie was able to have the EXIM Bank commit to the welter of projects that are in the pipeline for Berbice – including the second GtE, deep water harbour, and affordable housing! That’s working the room!! Interestingly, while President Trump spoke at the UNGA, China’s Xi Jinping bypassed NY and flew to Washington to meet Trump tomorrow!! So much for all the platitudes China spouts about the new world order where multilateralism will prevail – and snubs the United Nations!!
But Pressie didn’t stop there to rest on his laurels – no siree, Bob, as the Yanks would say!! He moseyed over to the elite Harvard Club in Midtown Manhattan to address and hobnob with a host of business leaders – sponsored by the Florida International University Adam Smith Center – to identify all the opportunities that abound in Guyana for good ole American entrepreneurship!! Maybe that GtE and ancillary projects in Berbice, since the financing’s already in the pipeline!!
Now Pressie’s scheduled to address the UNGA tomorrow morning on the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all”, and you can bet your bottom dollar that he won’t miss this fortuitous theme to push our Carolyn to succeed Secretary General Gutierrez – whose term ends this year!! She’s got a better chance now that Chile’s Bachelet stepped aside – as others will.
But, as your Eyewitness has said, ultimately the decision’s gonna be made by the Big Five – the US, Britain, China, France, and Russia – who have veto over the nomination!!

…the US interests
President Trump kept true to form as he spoke second – after Brazil – to declare his Administration’s position on a host of issues at the UNGA!! Right up there was the UN itself – where he left absolutely no doubt that the US ain’t pleased with the organisation!! One argument was that as fast as he tries to get a handle on illegal immigration into the US, the UN actually spends millions and millions on getting them in!! Maybe that’s why that UN agency – the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – is now assisting with settling US third-country deportees??
After stating that he’s settled seven wars, President Trump accused – by name!! – India and China of keeping the war in Ukraine going by continuing to buy Russian oil!! He also called out the European countries for playing both sides against the middle on Russian energy supplies!!
Your Eyewitness wondered whether President Trump would’ve thanked Guyana for receiving third-country deportees – but he picked El Salvador!!

…prices up
Here we go again, the price of wheat’s going up – and up because of tensions in the Black Sea ports due to the Ukraine-Russian war!!
With roti and bread as our staples, it’s gonna hit us hard!