“My administration has no sympathy for drug smugglers” – Pres Ali

…says will work with all allies to keep Guyana safe

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Wednesday evening reiterated the Guyana Government’s unwavering support of ongoing efforts to combat narcotics trafficking and other forms of smuggling in the region.

“We have a strong partnership with the U.S. and other international partners in dealing with every form of smuggling and drug trafficking,” the Head of State told reporters after delivering a 5-year blueprint for his administration to fast-track transformation and generate wealth for the Guyanese people during its term in office.
“My administration has absolutely no sympathy for drug traffickers. Tens of thousands, millions of lives are destroyed, and also economies are destroyed by smuggling… We also see our region as one in which democracy must be able to thrive, in which the rule of law must win every single day, [and] in which the freedom of our people, wherever they live and exist, must be honoured. And that is an important element of any modern society, and we support the region being a zone of peace.”
The Guyanese leader’s remarks come on the heels of the United States conducting massive military operations off the Venezuelan shore to combat transnational crime and the illicit drug trade.
However, Washington has been criticised over the operation especially after the US seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week. In fact, just days ago, President Donald Trump ordered a total and complete blockade of all US-sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
Asked about these escalating situations, President Ali pointed out that the “The United States government has access to more intelligence than anyone of us… So, we have to respect that these sanctions – and that is something every Guyanese need to understand: sanctions are a serious matter – and any action by the U.S. in relation to its own sanction mechanism is a matter for the United States Government.”
The Guyanese leader further contended that he cannot speak for other countries in the region that have spoken out against the US operations in the southern Caribbean, reminding of the aggression and threats Guyana is facing from Caracas.
“You know that we have a peculiar situation in Guyana. We just had Venezuelans being charged for terrorist activity in Guyana that claimed the life of [a] young person. We have a border situation to manage [whereby] we have an active threat from Venezuela on the sovereignty of this country. And my responsibility is to keep Guyanese safe, to keep Guyana safe, and to work with all our allies and partners in doing that. And I intend to continue to work strongly with our allies in doing exactly that,” President Ali declared.
Only last week, the United States of America Senior Advisor to the Secretary of War, Patrick Weaver, and the Acting Assistant Secretary of War for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Joseph Humire, were in Guyana.
During a high-level meeting at the State House in Georgetown, President Ali and the US officials reaffirmed the strong security and military relationship between the two countries that is based on a shared commitment to peace, sovereignty and security in the Western Hemisphere.
The two countries also signed a Statement of Intent to expand joint military cooperation with full respect for the sovereignty and laws of both countries.
The US officials also met with the of the Guyana Defence Force during their visit.