President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has emerged as a strong leader in CARICOM. When Cheddi Jagan took his rightful place as Guyana’s first elected President in an independent Guyana, while resoundingly admired, he could not take leadership of CARICOM because he inherited an almost bankrupt country, one which had a per-capita income and GDP several-fold less than any other CARICOM country at the time, a debt of about 900% its GDP and a population in a wild rush to escape the country. Bharat Jagdeo begun to take leadership as Guyana emerged out of its bankruptcy. Now with access to meaningful resources, President Irfaan Ali is stamping his authority as a leader, solidly placing Guyana as CARICOM’s natural leader.
One way Guyana is taking its rightful place as CARICOM’s leader is by flexing its diplomatic muscles. As it ends its month-long role as the UN Security Council’s Chair, it has become the voice of those countries which reject the hegemonic, genocidal war being waged by Israel against Gaza. Guyana, through its Chair at the UN Security Council, has made it clear that it rejects Israel’s repugnant war which has placed a ransom on the head of every citizen of Gaza, including its infants and those babies still in the wombs of their mothers. In denouncing the genocidal war, Guyana took a stance squarely opposite to that of America, Canada, the UK and Europe. Guyana showed that as much as it values the friendly relationship with these countries, it will not be cowered into blindly embracing the posture of these countries in the war which promises death to every Gaza citizen.
At the same time, at the UN Security Council, Guyana has stood tall in defending the rights of the Haitian people to self-determination, opposing efforts of international players that continue to foster division in Haiti. While defending the rights of the people of Ukraine, while denouncing Russia for its war against Ukraine, being on the same side of America, the UK, Canada, Europe, Guyana is not afraid to also stand apart from these countries when it comes to Gaza, when it comes to Cuba, when it comes to Haiti, when it comes to climate change. In our strong pursuit of non-aligned policies of standing for justice, our friends’ enemies will not automatically become our enemies.
In agreeing to the Argyle Meeting in our tension with Venezuela, we showed the world that conflicts must not necessarily lead to wars. Guyana and CARICOM, together with CELAC, showed the rest of the world another pathway, very different from those that led to wars in Ukraine and Gaza. We must all be proud that Guyana is becoming known globally for positives such as the fastest-growing economy for the last three years and predicted to maintain that status for several more years to come, for choosing peace as a preferred option over a pathway for war, for choosing to embrace countries in both the North and the South, for opening up our doors and arms to countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, as well as maintain our traditional partnerships with America, Canada, Europe. Far gone are the days when we were known for rigged elections, poverty and Jim Jones.
CARICOM’s 46th Heads of Government Conference headed by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali is being held this week in Guyana. For the first time, a broad coalition of partners, outside of CARICOM’s traditional partners, are present. High-level delegations from the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, Brazil, the Middle East, Africa are present at the 46th Meeting of the Heads of CARICOM. While CARICOM has for almost all its history depended on partnerships with countries in the West, such as America, Canada, the UK and Europe, it has not fully explored partnerships with countries in the Middle East, China and India. While CARICOM has talked much about South-South partnerships and collaboration, we walked little of the talk. But, recently, we see more and more willingness for a more robust South-South collaboration.
Most of CARICOM now have aligned themselves with China’s BRI (Belt Road Initiative). As of 2024, for the last twenty-years, Chinese banks have extended loans above $150B to LAC, more than $50B of which have been extended to CARICOM countries, with Trinidad and Tobago accessing about $3B, Jamaica about $2.2B, Guyana with more than $200M. Whether it is roads, bridges, stadiums, hospitals, schools, ports, even presidential homes, China is rapidly becoming a staple in the Caribbean. When CARICOM was born more than 50 years ago, outside of Cuba and Guyana, China was a pariah state in CARICOM and the Caribbean. Today, China is a strong ally in CARICOM.
In 2019, the first CARICOM-India Summit was held. Last year, in Georgetown, the 4th Summit was held. Guyana has had a long relationship with India. While other Caribbean countries also had friendly relationships with India, none had as close a relationship with India as Guyana did. Now the relationship between CARICOM and India has blossomed into a strong economic and social relationship. Presently, India has extended a $150M concessional funding for CARICOM countries. India wants and has pursued a strong presence in CARICOM.
But Middle East countries, such as Quatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE are all pursuing relationships with CARICOM. At the same time, the traditional solidarity with Africa are beginning to explore stronger economic linkages. Even as CARICOM expands its horizon in building robust relationships with non-traditional partners, CARICOM is deepening its engagement with Latin America and the deep south of South America.
Guyana is playing a liaison role in many of these relationships. With its history of strong relationships with India, China, Cuba and more prominent relationships with Middle East countries, Guyana is leading a new CARICOM diplomatic front with non-traditional countries. We have taken leadership role in CARICOM. President Ali is stamping his handprint in this new brave world for CARICOM.
