Pres Ali pays tribute to Shinzo Abe’s astute leadership, push for better relations with Guyana

– in letter of condolences following former PM’s assassination

Paying tribute to Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his astute leadership on the world scene and the efforts he made for better relations between Guyana and Japan, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday joined in the outpouring of condolences from world leaders following Abe’s assassination.

The former Prime Minister was in power from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020. In President Ali’s letter of condolences, he noted that Abe was held in high esteem by the people of Guyana.
“During his years in office, relations between Guyana and Japan were taken to a high level, particularly through his interest in the implementation of bilateral programmes for cooperation geared to support our climate change agenda.”
“He will be remembered for his astute leadership and his relentless pursuit of strategic economic policies for the enhancement of the livelihood of the people of Japan,” President Ali also said in his letter.
The President also expressed the hope that the loved ones of the former Prime Minister and the people of Japan, would be comforted by the knowledge that they remain in the thoughts and prayers of the people of Guyana during this difficult period of mourning.

Former Prime Minister Abe, 67, died on Friday hours after he was shot while campaigning for a parliamentary election outside a train station in the City of Nara. Japanese media reported that the weapon appeared to be a homemade gun.
According to international reports, the shooter opened fire on Abe, Japan’s longest-serving leader, from behind as the former premier addressed members of the public on a drab traffic island in the western city of Nara.
It is a shocking killing in a country where gun violence is rare amid strict gun control. In the wake of the killing, security has been beefed up for the current Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, who is also campaigning.
Meanwhile, President Ali has declared that all flags in Guyana are to be flown at half-staff on Saturday, July 9, to honour the Former Japanese Prime Minister.