Veteran Guyana-Caribbean journalist acknowledges President Ali’s ‘Valuable Leadership’

A PROMINENT veteran Caribbean journalist has acknowledged “the valuable leadership” of Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali, at home and in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Guyana-born Rickey Singh, now in retirement after six decades on the Caribbean beat, showered humble praise on President Ali in a letter of thanks to the Guyana Leader, for having greeted him a month earlier on his 86th birthday.

In his greetings to Singh’s birthday on February 1, President Ali assured the veteran Guyanese and Caribbean journalist that “You can take pride and satisfaction from your years of service to the people of Guyana and the Caribbean.”

The President added, “Your contributions to press freedom in the Caribbean have been legendary… and your courage in defending journalistic independence and integrity has not been forgotten.”

President Ali told the recently-retired veteran Caribbean media personality, “History will certainly acknowledge you as one of the finest practitioners of the profession in the Caribbean.”

President Ali also expressed his “personal admiration and respect” for Singh’s “years of sterling and steadfast service as one of the region’s foremost journalists.”

In his reply, Singh acknowledged the president’s leadership roles, saying:

“I commend the leadership you are demonstrating in corralling your peers in CARICOM to address the critical issues of food and energy security -- and importantly, the value of collective action for a stronger community.”

And he added, “I wish you the very best as you take your pride of place among the brightest and