Commonwealth SG lauds Pres Ali’s leadership on global issues

– as Guyana commits to advance key environmental, social matters

President Dr Irfaan Ali has once again come in for high praise over his stellar leadership on the international stage, this time from Secretary-General (SG) of the Commonwealth, Shirley Botchwey.

On Wednesday, President Ali hosted a luncheon in honour of SG Botchwey at State House in Georgetown. This is the Commonwealth SG’s first visit to Guyana since being elected to head the 56-member nation-body on April 1, 2025.
According to a brief statement on the Office of the President’s Facebook page, during Wednesday’s engagement, “Ms Botchwey thanked President Ali for his support during her election and for his stewardship and leadership on global issues.”
Moreover, President Ali emphasised that the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth are aligned in advancing key issues within an ever-changing and dynamic global environment, such as climate change and biodiversity and sustainable development, particularly with a focus on women, children, and persons with disabilities.

During the engagement, SG Botchwey was also presented with a painting titled “The Koker”, created by local artist Merlene Ellis.
Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, along with other Ministers of Government, also attended the luncheon.
SG Botchwey travelled to Guyana from Barbados, where she recently addressed the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, underscoring that at a time when democracy is under strain, parliamentarians are vital partners in delivering the Commonwealth’s vision for democratic, economic and environmental resilience.
Botchwey was appointed Secretary-General by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their biennial meeting in Apia, Samoa, in 2024, replacing former SG, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, who served in the position from 2016 to 2025.
SG Botchwey assumed office in April of this year, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in diplomacy, international relations, governance, and public service to the position.
At the time of her assumption of office as the seventh Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, President Ali extended his congratulations to Botchwey, stating that he looks forward to the continued collaboration within the Commonwealth for the benefit of all nations.
The Guyanese leader went on to say, “I have every confidence that under her leadership, the Commonwealth will continue to be a beacon of unity, progress, and cooperation among its member states. Guyana stands ready to work alongside her to advance our shared goals and address the critical challenges facing our global community.”
Meanwhile, only last month, SG Botchwey had extended best wishes on behalf of the Commonwealth to the people of Guyana as they stepped out to vote at the September 1 General and Regional Elections. She had said that, “This exercise of their constitutional and democratic rights is a vital step in strengthening civic engagement and building stronger institutions. We look forward to all voters making their voice heard.”
In fact, the Commonwealth SG had even deployed an observer group to monitor Guyana’s elections. Ahead of the 2025 polls, the Commonwealth also fielded two senior electoral experts – Dr Afari-Gyan, former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, and Dr Nasim Zaidi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India – to support the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in its preparations.
Additionally, SG Botchwey, in a social media post on September 7, had extended warm congratulations to President Ali on his re-election for a second term in office. “I look forward to continuing to work with you to support progress in #Guyana as well as sustainable and inclusive development across the Commonwealth,” she had stated.
Moreover, since her appointment, SG Botchwey has continued the Commonwealth’s long-standing support of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity against persisting threats from neighbouring Venezuela.
Only last month, the Secretary-General convened a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana (CMGG), during which they condemned the provocations by Venezuela against Guyana and called on both parties to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing border controversy, including adhering to the legal process currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for final settlement.
The Commonwealth of Nations, generally known simply as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, including Guyana, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire.