Irfaan Ali stands by academic qualifications, says he is experienced, competent to lead PPP
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali says questions about his qualifications are being used as a political football.
He was at the time addressing the media at his first press conference at the Opposition Leader’s Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown office on Thursday.
“I’ve seen persons trying to use my qualifications as a political football,” Ali told a packed room of media personnel.
Ali was questioned about his qualifications which have been the center of controversy for the past months.
“I have put all my qualifications out there, my certificates are out there, these are things that I stand by, I’ve worked hard. Every one of my academic qualifications, I stand by them,” he told the press.
Further questioned, Ali again said, “all my qualifications that I have gained in my life – and there is no cast of doubt in my mind…I stand completely by all my qualifications out there.”
The former Housing Minister completed his Master’s Degree at the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University of India in Human Resource Planning Development in 2003.
Ali said he is currently completing his PhD and a Masters of Law in International Commercial Law.
The press conference was the first hosted by the Presidential Candidate since was selected to lead his party to the polls at the next General and Regional Elections.
He declared that he is best suited for the job given his experience, competence, qualifications and team of supporters.
“I believe that I have the experience, I believe that I have the competency, I believe that I have managed large scale projects, I’ve been integral in policy making, I played an integral part in the economic transformation and building on a number of the economic policies [during the previous administration…I have worked in project planning, project development…I think I possess a wide array of experience,” Ali said.
He said he believes in inclusiveness and will work to ensure that there is equity in the health system and in the provision of jobs.
Ali at a previous forum had promised to provide 50,000 jobs.
On Thursday, he outlined that he will expand the housing sector, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector and others to create opportunities for youths.
“We have to look at…reduced delays, time-lags and better management of the resources including the procurement system…I would surround myself with the best team…I believe we will achieve everything with team effort,” he stated.
General and Regional Elections is constitutionally scheduled for next year.
However, Guyanese are awaiting the outcome of an appeal case before the Caribbean Court of Justice challenging the validity of a No-Confidence vote which toppled the Government on December 21, 2018.
