Pres Ali leads high-level talks with US lawmakers on security, regional stability

President Dr Irfaan Ali this week met with a bipartisan United States congressional delegation led by Senator Christopher Coons as part of its Western Hemisphere mission.

The engagement was held at the Office of the President on Tuesday during which discussions were held on strengthening the Guyana-US partnership and advancing shared interests in prosperity, security and regional stability.
According to the President, “I outlined my Government’s transformation agenda since 2020, including our investments in infrastructure and development, food and energy security, health care, education and agriculture.”
The Guyanese Leader said, in a social media post following the meeting, that he also reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to working closely with the United States to combat drug trafficking and transnational organised crime, strengthen security cooperation, and uphold respect for territorial sovereignty.
The visiting US congressional delegation was joined by US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot during Tuesday’s engagement with the Guyana Government.
Accompanying President Ali were Prime Minister, Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips; Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd; Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation Minister Zulfikar Ally; National Security Advisor Captain Gerry Gouveia, and other Government officials.
March 2023 was the last time a bipartisan US congressional delegation was in Guyana.
Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Congressman Jason Smith had led that congressional delegation for talks with Guyanese politicians and the local Private Sector. Other US officials were: Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL); Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV); Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (R-MN); Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX); Congressman Mike Carey (R-OH) and Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND).
During the visit, they met with Government officials and Opposition Leaders to discuss issues related to governance, economic matters, and the importance of bipartisan cooperation.
They also engaged with prominent business leaders from the US and Guyana to learn firsthand about Guyana’s exponential economic growth. Their visit had sought to further examine the bilateral and economic cooperation between the US and Guyana.
The House Committee on Ways and Means is the oldest committee of the US Congress and is the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives.
Since 1795, the committee has exercised jurisdiction over revenue and related issues such as tariffs, international trade policy, and the bonded debt of the US.