Commonwealth, Caricom look forward to working with President Ali

…urge politicians to work together for greater good of Guyana

The international community, which has closely followed Guyana’s prolonged elections and have stood firmly on the side of the people, have now issued an outpouring of congratulations for the new President, and committed their support to working with the new Government in developing the country.
It started on Sunday, immediately after the swearing-in of Dr Irfaan Ali as the ninth Executive President of Guyana. Congratulations continued to roll in on Monday, with Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland also promising the Commonwealth’s support to Guyana.
“I wish to reaffirm the Commonwealth’s unwavering commitment to supporting the people of Guyana in their quest to strengthen democratic and inclusive governance and ensure sustainable socio-economic development in the country,” Scotland said in her statement.
The Commonwealth SG also lauded President Ali for his commitment given after the swearing-in exercise to work in the interest of all Guyanese. She encouraged all politicians in Guyana, across the political divide, to work together in the interest of national reconciliation.
In her statement, Baroness Scotland made sure to commend the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for finally completing the five-month-long process, dragged out by the shenanigans of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).
She was also high in praises for GECOM Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh for sticking to her convictions and upholding the Constitution when she ultimately made her declaration on Sunday afternoon in favour of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
“Through challenging times, the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission exemplified the courage, fortitude and grace required to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. I wish to thank her for the bravery and strength of purpose that she demonstrated throughout,” Scotland wrote.

“Profound gratitude, too, to the Commonwealth Senior Electoral Advisers, deployed in January under the auspices of my good offices to support GECOM: Dr Nasim Zaidi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India; and Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, former Chairman of the Ghana Elections Commission, who is still on the ground in Guyana, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commonwealth will forever remember your selfless service,” she added.

Owen Arthur
Scotland also made sure to pay special tribute to former Barbadian Prime Minister Owen Arthur, who as Chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group to Guyana, was vociferous in his fight for the will of the people to triumph. According to Scotland, his efforts in Guyana were invaluable.
“Finally, the Chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group to the 2 March General and Regional Elections was the indefatigable, Rt Hon Owen Arthur, former Prime Minister of Barbados, who sadly passed away recently,” Scotland wrote.
“As one of his very last gifts of notable leadership to the Caribbean and the Commonwealth, which he loved, he worked for Guyana to maintain its trajectory on a democratic path. He would have rejoiced witnessing this momentous and peaceful democratic landmark for Guyana. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Arthur led Barbados for an unprecedented three consecutive terms from 1994 to 2008, having served as Member of Parliament for the constituency of St Peter from 1984 to 2013. In 2013, Arthur announced that election would be his last after the Barbados Labour Party was defeated.

During his time in Guyana standing up for the will of the people, Arthur clashed with former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Karen Cummings and APNU/AFC Campaign Manager Joseph Harmon.
Arthur passed away at midnight on July 27 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, aged 70. The elder statesman was hospitalised last month with heart complications and was said to be a patient at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Caricom
Meanwhile, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) also embraced the results and congratulated President Ali. Caricom, which oversaw the recount that produced Ali’s victory, also commended the people of Guyana for their patience and maturity.
“The Community congratulates His Excellency Mohammed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on their victory at the polls,” Caricom said in a statement.
“The Chairman of Caricom, Dr the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines called the President to extend his best wishes, while Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, personally conveyed his congratulations to the President at yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony,” Caricom also said, adding that they will continue to support the Government’s efforts to develop Guyana.

Congratulations also came President Ali’s way on Monday from former Trinidadian Prime Minister and leader of the United National Congress (UNC), Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who in a statement said that democracy and liberty prevailed in the end over Guyana.
“The strong showing in the polls by Dr Ali as well as his party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), was a clear reflection of the confidence and faith that the citizens of Guyana have in the vision which the PPP put forward in their campaign, fulfilling the old saying, “the voice of the people is the voice of God,” She wrote.
“Based on his party’s campaign theme, “We are stronger together”, there is no doubt that the expertise, solid vision, as well as experience of Dr Ali and his team, would ensure that Guyana continues to go from strength to strength.”
According to Persad, the Caribbean region remains grateful for the contributions Guyana has made to the region. As such, she extended best wishes to the new Administration, in reaching the lofty goals set by the party’s manifesto.
Dr Ali was sworn in at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Sunday by Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonnette Cummings. A number of members of the diplomatic community were present, including US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, UK High Commissioner Greg Quinn, Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee and EU Ambassador Fernando Ponz-Canto – representing the ABCE countries.
Following his swearing in, there was an outpouring of congratulatory statements, including from the ABCE countries, the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the US Department of State. (G3)