During a tense exchange with BBC reporter Stephen Sackur regarding Guyana’s oil reserves, President Irfaan Ali asserted his position by stating that he could offer insight into climate change. The discussion escalated as the reporter questioned the country’s commitment to environmental concerns amidst the development of its newfound oil wealth.
The President interrupted, passionately defending his government’s approach to the sector,emphasizing its role in the country’s economic development, and expressing his willingness to provide an informed perspective on climate change. This heated moment was captured in a viral video, highlighting the intensity of the exchange between the two parties.
Guyana’s ruling party, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, actively disseminated the discussion by sharing a video on its YouTube Channel. The video, featuring a comprehensive interview between President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Stephen Sackur, host of BBC’s HARDtalk, captured the dynamic and intense exchange between the two and kept the audience engaged throughout.
The interview commenced with the president reflecting on Guyana’s journey from its tumultuous history. Approximately 15 minutes into the conversation, Sackur broached the topic of the anticipated carbon emissions stemming from oil and gas extraction along Guyana’s coast.
The president quickly interjects, “Let me stop you right there,” and continues, “Are you aware that Guyana is home to a forest the size of England and Scotland combined? A forest that stores 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon? A forest that we have preserved?” Sackur asks, “Does that give you the right to release all this carbon?”
The tension continued to escalate as both parties passionately defended their respective positions. President Ali emphasized the importance of economic growth for Guyana’s development, while Sackur pressed on the environmental implications of the country’s oil and gas extraction plans.
Their heated exchange persisted, underscoring the complexities surrounding the issue at hand. Dr. Ali responds, “Does it give you the right to lecture us on climate change? I am going to lecture you on climate change because we have kept this forest alive that stores 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon that you enjoy, that the world enjoys, that you don’t pay us for, that you don’t value, that you don’t see a value in, that people of Guyana has kept alive.”
People had a lot to say about the interviewon social media platforms. “I love how the President handled this reporter. He stood up for his country, the Caribbean, and the developing countries. Don’t come for us in the Caribbean, BBC! We didn’t call you!” wrote a YouTube user.
“Great job, President. All Guyanese should be very proud of you,” added another.
“Mr President, we are behind you one hundred percent,” joined a third.
Today, Dr. Irfaan Ali has made his mark as an influential regional leader. He has intellectually defended Guyana’s integrity, compared to Aubrey Norton, who denigrated the poor Afro-Guyanese to win political points with the same BBC reporter.
It is typically British media that is ready to blame the developing nations, whereas the UK and the Western world have been polluting our planet for decades.
The Guyanese people and the world have seen a world leader, Dr. Irfaan Ali, speak on behalf of Guyana and the developing world.
Furthermore, Dr. Irfaan Ali is the same leader who defended the African slavery case with another British journalist. We wonder why it is that Afro-Guyanese leaders, including Aubrey Norton, do not openly raise the slavery issue to the world media.
Instead, Aubrey Norton accuses the Indo-Guyanese leaders of racism, nepotism, and favouritism when over 80% of the significant establishment jobs are occupied by Afro-Guyanese. The Indo-Guyanese, the Amerindians, the Guyanese Portuguese, the Sino-Guyanese, and other minorities who together are the majority in Guyana are entirely ignored.
Dr. Irfaan Ali’s response to the BBC reporter is praised worldwide on all social media platforms. The world has discovered Western media’s tricks to humiliate the newly developing world. The BBC was caught blaming others this time when the British had been polluting the world since the Industrial Revolution.
Well done, President Dr Irfaan Ali.