Guyana President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s robust responses to a global warming question posed by Host Stephen Sackur during the BBC program HARDtalk have gone viral.
Sackur questioned whether Guyana’s fossil-fuel extraction focus contradicts global efforts to combat climate change.
The BBC journalist also pointed to the potential environmental impact of extracting $150 billion worth of oil and gas reserves off Guyana’s coast, releasing more carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
However, the Guyana President fired back.
The exchange with the BBC interviewer received wide international media coverage.
In addition, people used social media to praise the Guyana President’s responses in ‘schooling’ his interviewer, whom they accused of talking down to Ali.
On the other hand, while acknowledging Ali’s pointed responses, others felt that the BBC journalist was merely doing his job.
“combat climate change.” If climate change is a natural process of the planet, combating climate would be akin to trying to kill the planet.
They were both doing their “job”. And Mr Ali especially, did his job very well indeed.
Away with their neocolonialism…
They were both doing their jobs? Of course they were. The BBC as usual talking down to a “small islander” leader when they will never do so with any of G8’s leaders. Irfan Ali handled himself excellently!!
What people need to realise is that journalists have a job to get to the bottom of the matters at hand. I particularly like Stephen Sackur’s level of interrogation. It’s up to the interviewee to give as good as they get…We must demand more from our leaders and journalists are perfectly placed to ask the hard questions. I would like to see Pierre being interrogated by Sackur. Perhaps our journalists could asks those difficult questions of our leaders on behalf of the nation. A free press is essential to democracy and freedom of speech. It’s usually a free press that uncovers the skeletons in politics and dishes it out to the people. Long live the free press.
Exon mobile that is making all the money while the guyaness people remain dirt poor
The exchange was beautiful in a sense refreshing because the interviewer got a taste of the spiciness of an intelligent Caribbean man.
He wasn’t expecting it …and was dished out properly.
I have no quas about ignorance and incompetence. Brits rape our soil for their wealth while we struggle to support their gain. Guyana will remain rich on paper but equally refuse to makes it’s citizens wealthy.
Pierre? Gassa if mate ax pierre dat, Umm umm umm alone pierre saying ee.
@C-Wiz….the free press and those who advocate and adhere to it’s use of that freeness abuse this freedom to polarize members of civic society for political gains and to reshape the narrative of society to reflect their school of thought of what their mind set society should be, a trait of which you execute daily so well. @ Cheap shot Gilly the fool, just why would that interviewer ask PJP Pierre such a question When we have nothing but two rocks sticking out of the ocean and a seat at the UN ?
“No respect !”
Tell him to try it with Nicolas Maduro, the venusulian président !
I think the producers of this kabuki theater expect to take in at least US$100 billion in profits from the performance of these amateur actors, who will each earn paltry sums in comparison: US$1 million for the BBC bozo, and US$5 million for the Guyanese grifter!