Remembrance Day 2025: “Remember those who sacrificed their lives, salute those who are serving” – Pres Ali

– as Govt pledges $1.5M, other support for Guyana Veterans Legion

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Dr Irfaan Ali, on Sunday paid homage to the men and women in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in service, while impressing the need to salute the active serving members of the Joint Services. He made his remarks during the National Remembrance Day wreath-laying ceremony, held early Sunday morning at the War Monument (Cenotaph) in Georgetown, to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of World War I and World War II.

The Guyanese leader, along with heads of the Joint Services, Government Ministers, veterans, serving members of the Armed Forces and other special invitees, braved the morning rains to participate in the ceremony. During brief remarks at the ceremony, President Ali said the occasion serves as a reminder of the sacrifice of the gallant men and women, who made a supreme sacrifice and gave their lives in the cause of peace and freedom. He also recognised those Guyanese who fought for national freedom. “We recall with eternal gratitude those who have made similar personal sacrifices in the continuing struggle for human dignity, liberty, equity and social justice. We remember the Guyanese men and women who struggled for national independence and who have given their lives in the service to our nation,” he stated.

In the same breath, the Commander-in-Chief also recognised the sacrifices of the men and women who are actively serving the country. “We also salute our current serving men and women who stand guard at our borders, who leave their homes with a dignity and pride not of war but of peace; peaceful existence of our nation, peaceful existence of our people and the sovereignty and security of our nation. We thank them. We salute them. We are encouraged by their example to strengthen our resolve to preserve the peace within our borders and also to keep this peace for generations to come,” the Head of State noted.
President Ali further went on to salute all leaders who embrace democracy, justice, liberty and who together, combine their efforts for a world that is free from the scourge of every disruption of peace – whether that be transnational crime, terrorism, or any other form of act or action that put peace at risk. He added, “We call upon every leader to resolve, to come together, to defeat terror, to defeat oppression, to defeat injustice, to defeat criminality and to protect our next generation and allow them to grow in a world of honour, freedom and dignity. We rededicate ourselves to the quest for peace for the nation and for the happiness and prosperity of our people.”

Support for veterans
The wreath-laying ceremony was followed by the annual Remembrance Day event held at the Guyana Veterans Legion (GVL) headquarters on Carifesta Avenue. There, Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira, who is serving as the Prime Minister (PM), reiterated the Guyana Government’s continuous commitment to support the Legion. Currently, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), with support from the Government, is rehabilitating sections of the GVL’s building to the tune of some $13 million. In addition, Teixeira announced on Sunday, a contribution from the State of $1.5 million to Veterans Legion.
The cheque was received by GVL President, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) George Gomes, who welcomed the monetary support, noting that it goes a long way for not just the institution but assisting the surviving veterans as well as the widows of those who are no longer here. Currently, there are four surviving veterans of World War II in Guyana: Victor Brush, Donald Grant, James Samuels and Franklyn Courtman – all of whom are 99-years old. According to Gomes, Remembrance Day observances have historical importances in Guyana. To this end, he pointed out that there must be a special effort to ensure that these observances are never watered down, nor that the great sacrifices of the fallen heroes and those who are still here be forgotten. “We must never forget them. It is our responsibility to ensure that future generations are taught about the significance and importance of these annual observances, and to inculcate in them, the need to maintain the tradition,” the GVL President stated.
Similar sentiments were shared by Minister Teixeira, who committed to lobbying her Government to set aside special timings in the school curriculum to educate Guyanese children about Remembrance Day observances and the history behind it.
The Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister further also echoed the need for Guyana to recognise and to remember those who have died and sacrificed in saving the world from war. She pointed out that those Guyanese who went to serve in the world wars not only did so with honour but in trying circumstances, even facing discrimination abroad. “I do believe that the sacrifice that was made by our men who went to serve in World War I and II is quite mind-boggling because they went way beyond what were the parameters that were allowed in our country and even abroad, and even what was acceptable in the Commonwealth and the British Empire. And I think we have a responsibility to remember those men, majority men but women as well,” Teixeira noted. Meanwhile, the GDF’s Chief-of-Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, along with representatives from the British and Canadian High Commissions in Georgetown also delivered brief remarks during Sunday’s Remembrance Day observances at the Guyana Veterans Legion building.