Dear Editor,
HIS Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has rung in the new year with fulfilling and delivering on one of his major promises he made last year to the Toshaos to lower airfares to the Amerindian communities and modernise the more than 60 airstrips in the interior regions.
He has brought glad tidings to the Amerindian communities as several local aviation companies have responded to his request to lower airfares to the Amerindian communities and to the remote interior regions of the country in general.
Many, including Air Services Limited and Roraima Airways, have lowered their airfares by some seven percent, but Jags Aviation Inc, a leading and perhaps the largest domestic aviation provider in Guyana and a member of the prominent and expanding BK Group of Companies, has not only heeded the President’s call to lower airfares, but went further than the other local carriers by significantly reducing its air farse by 10 percent.
Mr Brian Tiwarie, OMC, AA, the Executive Chairman of BK Group of Companies has always felt that airfares to the interior were too expensive and, as a result, he has decided to pass on the much-needed savings to the commuters.
He said that we have a duty to care, support and help our Amerindian brothers and sisters and this is part of President Ali’s “One Guyana” initiative to modernise the airstrips, provide easier and cheaper access to the interior, and, most importantly, to make sure that they are treated fairly and equally, regardless of their economic status.
According to Mr Tiwarie, the reduction in airfares to the interior will increase traffic by individuals visiting, and will result in an upsurge in business to the interior regions. The prominent businessman has asserted that few, if any, could cast doubt on His Excellency’s ability, adroitness and genuine leadership to develop Guyana, especially its interior regions, improve its infrastructure, expand agriculture, provide adequate and first-rate education and healthcare services and reduce poverty and crime, with the aim to improve the lives of the people and make Guyana better.
Borrowing from the famous phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence, “In pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness” penned by Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, President, Dr Ali strongly believes that all Guyana’s citizens both at home and in the diaspora, should be treated fairly and equally, and that his government will do everything in its power to protect these inherent rights and their human rights.
In most of his speeches, he urged Guyanese to be positive, respect the rule of law and one another and help in the development of the country. In other words, be “thy brothers and sisters keepers” and this with his “One Guyana” have been his mantra since he assumed the reins of power as Head of State more than five years ago.
President Ali is blessed with the ability to influence, guide, and motivate individuals or groups, both in the private and public sectors towards achieving a shared vision and a common goal for the prosperity of the country.
And he has done this both within and outside of his formal authority as President and as a true Guyanese patriot and a good, decent and honest human being to inspire action, foster collaboration, infuse confidence, make sound decisions, and to empower his fellow Guyanese to obtain results and achieve goals they could not attain alone. He has implored them not to accept mediocrity and ultimately the sky should be their limit.
It can be said that President, Dr Ali has distinguished himself as one of the most influential and respected leaders of his generation. Locally, his presidency has been defined by principled leadership, economic reform and massive infrastructural development, and internationally, his advocacy for climate justice and debt reform for developing nations, among others.
He has garnered international acclaim for his valiant, moral, intellectual and fearless leadership.
We are fortunate to have Dr Irfaan Ali as our President; we are proud of him.