Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali tours Kings County Hospital, encourages unity, during first walkabout in Brooklyn

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali received a warm welcome from Guyanese-born medical staff at Kings County Hospital Center, during his very first visit to Brooklyn last Friday, April 19 since he assumed office in 2020.

The politician who interacted with several staff members and was taken on a tour of the facility by CEO Sheldon McLeod, expressed an interest in organizing quarterly medical missions to the Republic to utilize the skills of specialized nurses, doctors, and technicians from Kings County.

Kings County Hospital Center CEO Sheldon McLeod, extends a hand to President of Guyana Irfaan Ali, as Community Board 17 District Manager Sherif Barker, center looks on, after a tour of KIngs County Hospital Center on April 19.Photo by Tangerine Clarke

President Ali who recently arrived in New York to be honored at the Gala to honor eminent Caribbean leaders of the esteemed University of the West Indies, said “we could make use of this asset,” and called on head of the Diaspora Unit in the Guyana Consulate, Fazel Yussuff to register specialists who will be integrated into the system in Guyana and be utilized. He mentioned that he would plan a reunion, before instituting training for local medical personnel. “We should really make use of this asset,” he said, and invited retirees to be a part of the medical missions.

“I am very impressed with what you have been able to achieve here. The fact is you have more that 5500 medical practitioners, technicians, workers, and approximately 13 percent are Guyanese. I am very proud to see that Guyanese are contributing to this significant facility. This is the highlight of my day.”

“This facility here in Brooklyn is a level one trauma center, which is at the highest level, and dealing with the type of demand in your system is incredible. We are looking forward to continuing this conversation.”

“We will definitely work on establishing an MOU, cross-fertilization of skills technology and experience that you have built up here to transfer back to Guyana,” he told McCloud after the tour.

McCloud in turn, told President Ali, “It has been an honor having you here.”

Guyanese owner of Caribbean PowerJam Radio, Shoan Sampson on Remsen Avenue in Brooklyn left, gets a hug from President Ali, center, and Lady Linda Felix Johnson after an interview at the Brooklyn-based station on April 19. Photo by Tangerine Clarke

Community Board 17 District Manager Sherif Barker, who, along with Claire Patterson-Monah, and James Richmond, organized the Brooklyn walkabout, said the community has been trying to get the commander-in-chief to visit the community for a long time, adding, “it was fitting that President Ali stopped by Kings County, to say thanks, for the collaboration, since the facility has been instrumental in the assistance of Guyana with patients in the Cancer Center for quite some time,” said Barker, a city worker for almost forty years.

“I oversee service delivery to this district. I play a very important role not only for Guyanese but for everyone that lives in this community,” said Barker who thanked President Ali for his visit to the borough.

The head-of-state also spoke of the importance of education, noting the many scholarships awarded to students, and related that his administration has several agricultural projects in place to address food security, during “Conversations with Lady Linda” aired on Caribbean Power Jam Radio, owned by Guyanese Shoan Sampson.

He also sampled national dishes from several Guyanese-owned eateries, including Pam & Steve, Linda’s, Pam’s Bakery, German Restaurant, and “The Hills Restaurant” on Church Avenue, where he met with owner Doris Rodney, who voiced “if we are one people, let’s do it together, because we have respect for you.”

During the engagement, he said he also wants unity among Guyanese, and expressed how pleased he was, “to be in this community to celebrate the great work you’re doing,” and thanked the group for the warm welcome.

“I want to assure you, having visited different areas here in Brooklyn, the Kings County hospital with 5500 workers 13% of which are Guyanese, we cannot be anything but proud of the work and the contributions Guyanese continue to make in the US. We will continue to build our country to become sustainable, and highly competitive. One in which every Guyanese must be able to live a prosperous life, he said, adding that all citizens will enjoy the standard of living that is befitting where “our country is going.”

He laid out an impressive plan for development that includes a tourism hospitality institute to support the more than 40 hotels that are under construction, and other sectors to benefit all Guyanese, while positioning the country as a global leader in food, energy, and climate security.

By 2030, he said many more opportunities will become available, and invited compatriots to return home to invest. “I want you to know that all of me is dedicated to Guyana, and all Guyanese.”

“Let us, work together based on truth, not on propaganda and lies,” said President Ali, who promised to return to Brooklyn for a sit-down where ideas can be shared towards building a stronger Guyana.

Guyanese nationals from Brooklyn and Queens joined President Irfaan Ali for a photo-op under the Little Guyana sign at the intersection of Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens, during his final stop of a walkabout in New York, on April 19. Photo by Tangerine Clarke

Consul General to New York, Michael E. Brotherson, Ambassador to Washington, Zulfikar Ally, and Ossie Rogers, were part of President’s Ali delegation, that ended with a walkabout in Richmond Hill, Queens, where he visited Guyanese-owned eateries, including Sybil’s Restaurant and met with owner Viburt “Cookie” Bernard.

He ended his visit with a photo-op under the Little Guyana signage at the intersection of Lefferts Boulevard, and Liberty Avenue.