All Guyana extends a most hearty welcome to United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken who is gracing these shores on a one-day visit today.
While in Guyana, Secretary Blinken will hold high-level discussions with President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Cabinet among other officials. Among the priority bilateral discissions today will be issues including food, energy security and decarbonisation, climate resilience, regional migration, and building local capacity.
Guyana is indeed particularly honoured to host Mr Blinken, not merely because he is the one highest-level official from the world’s greatest superpower to come to Guyana in recent times, but also because of ability and the extremely significant role his country playing in world affairs.
It should be pointed out that Secretary Blinken’s one-day visit to Guyana is part of efforts by the US Government to strengthen ties with Guyana and other Caribbean nations.
In Guyana, the forces of dictatorship and anti-democracy had preened themselves to establish a Burnhamist electorally-rigged dictatorship after the December 21 2018 no-confidence motion in Parliament went against them. The incumbent at the time (APNU/AFC) ignored the Constitution of the country and even tried to sideline the Judiciary. They were bent on establishing a dictatorship and did so by every means possible, but countries like the United States of America, among several others are wary of countries going along this path.
Local democratic forces which included the PPP/C along with civil society groups were tirelessly in their struggle to assert democracy, but certain key elements were bent on seizing power by hook or crook. It was only when the CARICOM and ABCE countries, and particularly the US and its abled Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch, let it be known that they would not tolerate a government remaining in office through fraudulent means, that the forces of democracy were encouraged and given a strength and new lease of life. Victory was eventually achieved and a democratically-elected government is in place. This, we know was not an easy task.
Mr Blinken’s visit to Guyana and his participation at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, where he engaged several regional heads on Wednesday is an assertion and strengthening of democracy and sends a clear message to everyone that the Western World and the USA in particular would not tolerate dictatorships. The modern world values democracy and the rule of law and will support various endeavors in this regard.
Additionally, the US has always been an important development partner of Guyana, and it is our belief that Secretary Blinken’s visit, is an indication of Washington’s confidence in President’s Ali’s Government.
Certainly, Blinken’s visit to Guyana would strengthen Guyana-US relationship, which is bound to grow stronger and stronger because of the many ties that bind us together – we were both British colonies, we speak the same language, we share the Common Law and the same Parliamentary institutions.
Further, it should also be mentioned that Guyana has strong familial links with the US, with hundreds of thousands of Guyanese residing there.
Over the years, the US, through its development agencies, has funded several projects in Guyana, including in the areas of governance, HIV/AIDS, small business development, the environment, health and education. This support has really made a difference in achieving our development objectives.
With Guyana now being an oil producing nation and major US businesses investing here, we firmly believe that there would be an increased interest in terms of creating partnerships with this country.
In this regard, we are certain Secretary Blinken’s visit will open a new era of closer social, economic and political cooperation.
