A formal inauguration ceremony today will mark the official appointment of Dr Irfaan Ali as Guyana’s ninth Executive President.
President Irfaan Ali taking his Oath of Office on Sunday last
The ceremony, as is executed with the appointment of every Head of State, will be commemorated at the National Cultural Centre on Homestretch Avenue. The Disciplined Services and other stakeholders would have been tasked with executing the event smoothly.
In adherence to COVID-19 guidelines, a limited number of persons have been selected to partake under established guidelines for social distancing – wearing of face masks at all times, temperatures check and sanitisation.
Surinamese Head of State Chandrikapersad Santokhi
As customary, Prime Minister, ret’d Brigadier Mark Phillips will be welcomed first, followed by President Ali.
Suriname’s President
With grand preparations executed throughout the week to welcome the incumbent, recently-elected Surinamese Head of State Chandrikapersad Santokhi is also slated to attend the inauguration ceremony.
Local reports in Suriname have indicated that Surinamese Foreign Affairs Minister, Albert Ramdin will also accompany the President. The foreign convoy is expected to arrive in Guyana today and will depart on Sunday.
Santokhi would have accepted the invitation to witness the investiture event, in a bid to maintain good relations with his country’s bordering neighbour. On July 16, he was elected to serve as President of Suriname after his Progressive Reform Party emerged victoriously.
Ranks of the Guyana Police Force’s Mounted Branch practising their march past along Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown ahead of today’s inauguration ceremony
On Sunday, Dr Ali was sworn-in at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre as Guyana’s ninth Executive Head of State by Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards following the declaration by GECOM.
The PPP/C won the March 2, 2020 elections with 233,336 votes, a lead of 15,416 over its nearest political rival, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).
In his inaugural address as President, Dr Ali committed to Guyanese that he will uphold the Oath of Office he took and work every day in the best interests of the people of Guyana.
“There is one future and that future requires a united Guyana. That future requires a strong Guyana. That future requires every Guyanese to play a part in building our country, ensuring we leave a better Guyana for the next generation. We are in this together. We are not separated by class, by ethnicity, by religion or by political persuasion. We are united in the true Guyanese spirit,” he had asserted.
At that time, he noted that there is a lot of work to be done and this will start instantaneously.
Traffic advisory
For the inauguration, the Guyana Police Force has enforced stringent traffic tactics to ensure that the activities are carried out smoothly. For this, the general public has been advised that Homestretch Avenue, between Vlissengen Road and Mandela Avenue, will be closed to vehicular traffic from 07:00h to 13:00h.
Only invitees will be allowed to access the National Cultural Centre through Hadfield Street, Georgetown. (G12)
