H.E. President Dr Irfaan Ali
Mohamed Irfaan Ali
Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the 10th and latest president of Guyana, is gaining lots of attention not only in politics but also for his position regarding the climate crisis. Solicited to office in August 2020 and amidst a stormy political election, Irfaan Ali president of Guyana has emerged as one of the world’s strongest climate justice activist. Of particular interest is an event that occurred during his presidency. In a 2021 interview with BBC Stephen Sackur, Irfaan Ali did not spare words describing the “hypocricy” on climate change and oil extraction by the Global North, as he characterized this transnational region.
This blog will provide some insight about Joseph Ernst Irfaan Mohamed’s life, how he became the president, and the well-known BBC interview which caused such a stir to his active support of the green agenda in the context of Guyana
Early Life and Education 
Born on April 25, 1980, in Leonora, Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali grew up in a humble Indo-Guyanese Muslim family. His upbringing in a family of educators shaped his worldview. Ali attended several schools in Guyana, including St. Stanislaus College, where he received comprehensive academic education and effective instructional methods. He then attended the University of the West Indies and got a postgraduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning.
Nor was his education limited to these accomplishments. His USA Ali acquired the degree of MSc of Human Resource Planning at the National Institute of Labour Economics, New Delhi and pursuing studies at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Adult history is well viewed due to his educational portfolio, which centers around planning and development, also the fundamentals of his political life.
Marriage and personal life
Mohamed Irfaan Ali married Arya Ali in 2017, and together they have two children. Arya Ali, known for her philanthropic work, plays an active role as the First Lady of Guyana, championing causes related to education, women’s empowerment, and community development. The couple’s partnership has garnered attention for its dedication to both personal and national service. Their family life is often regarded as one grounded in strong values, with a shared commitment to making a positive impact on society. Together, they represent a modern, progressive family in Guyana’s political landscape.
Political Adventure and Ascend to Leadership
His political activity started from the position of a parliamentarian, which he took up in 2006 and soon began ascending the administrative ladder. He combined holding significant ministerial offices like Minister of Housing and Water, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. With this background, Ali was elected the head of the Public Accounts Committee and the Economic Services Committee of Guyana.
In 2020, Ali was selected as the head of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) ticket for the presidential elections. Top judiciary activity suspended all additional electoral processes for few months and it was during this period on the 2nd of August 2020, that he took the oath of office as President of Guyana. He was also accused of fraud and conspiracy during the campaign and was cleared to take the position of Guyana’s leader.
The Viral BBC Interview: Stand of Ali over Climate Justice
Ali’s stand on climate justice was on full display during his presidency; however, his confrontation with BBC’s Stephen Sackur is most likely the most memorable of them all. In a debate about dependence on oil and global warming, Ali flip flopped the discussion to the double standards of the western nations. Goodman pressed on, for instance, how was the carbon footprint of Guyana with all its oil activities, and Ali reacted aggressively to that saying that such forests were practically the size of England and Scotland combined, containing 19.5 giga tons of carbon safe and protected.
Ali noted that Guyana is still forested and has biodiversity which has sadly eluded the developed world since its industrialisation war against nature. He stressed that the more developed nations reap everything Guyana has as its forests with no payments or recognition of their worth. And not just anybody, but Ali, encouraging few with any consequence, asked Sackur if the latter was “in the pockets” of the very countries.
see the clip :
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Guyana’s Oil Sector and Ali’s Vision
With Mohammed Irfaan Ali at the helm, the country can be expected to join the league of oil-producing countries. The presence of huge deposits in oil and gas offshore industry will help the nation accrue reasonable revenue in the coming years. According to Ali, earning from oil exploration and extraction is extremely critical for the economic developments of the country. However, it should be done judiciously making sure that Romania’s resources are not exploited in the process. He has promised to set up a sovereign wealth fund which will safeguard and protect the country’s resource from politics and make sure that the wealth is enjoyed by generations to come.
Besides the creation of the oil sector where he highlights the importance of market discipline, Ali’s administration also hopes to meet the best international practices in the oil industry, principles of Santiago and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. His ambitious vision is to strike clean development where economic growth is not to the detriment of environmental safeguarding, and the resources of every country including those gifted with oil are protected going forward.
Conclusion
Inexplicably, Irfan Ali’s style of governance is not limited to the gallery of managing political affairs only. The fierce nature with which he defended the country’s environmental record during the interview with BBC depicts a leader not afraid to defy ever-powerful forces and fight for a proper cause. As the country struggles to establish itself as an oil power in the future, climate justice is likely to remain one of the barnacles of Ali’s presidency.
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