“When you vote on Sept 1, you are voting for a modern security system, protection of Guyana’s sovereignty” – Pres Ali

President Irfaan Ali has called on Guyanese to view the September 1 General and Regional Elections as a defining moment for the nation’s sovereignty, security, and economic future.
Addressing a large crowd at a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) rally in Alexander Village, Georgetown, the President devoted his remarks to outlining the Government’s achievements over the last five years and the ambitious plans for the next term, while warning of the risks of reversing progress.
“When you vote on September the 1st, you’re voting for a trusted international partner in this Government to take care of our sovereignty and national security. Never before in the history of this country have we formed so many strategic security partnerships and alliances to defend our sovereignty and our national security interests. We have an alliance with France, and we have alliances with every single CARICOM state. We are now a member of the RSS, the Regional Security System. We have an alliance with Colombia. We have alliances with the United States, with Canada, with the UK, with the Middle East, and with India. We have been able to form the most inclusive broad-based security partnership for Guyana in the last five years. And this is important. It is important that we have a multitude of partners. It is important that we can rely on these partners to support us in our national defence and security,” the President stated.
Ali said that over the past five years, Guyana has built the “most inclusive, broad-based security partnership in the country’s history”, strengthening ties with major global and regional players. He stressed that these measures are designed not just to address crime but to safeguard the country’s sovereignty in a period of heightened geopolitical challenges.
The President also linked the election to Guyana’s energy and economic security. He pledged to maintain the lowest fuel prices in the region, halve the cost of electricity, and protect households from global price shocks through targeted tax adjustments and increased domestic production of critical goods such as fertiliser, grains, and animal feed. He outlined plans for two major natural gas power plants that will power new industrial growth in manufacturing, agro-processing, data centres, and emerging urban hubs like Silica City.
“You’re voting to ensure that there is a Government in place that knows how to adjust the taxes and remove the taxes so that the imported inflation is not passed on to the consumer. You’re voting now – as you see now, we have the lowest prices at the pump in the entire region. You are voting to ensure a stable energy sector, one in which there will be no translated price increases at the extraordinary levels that are taking place globally,” the Head of State added.
Ali spoke of reducing transportation costs, improving road networks, and making vehicle ownership more accessible, while strengthening agriculture to make Guyana the “livestock capital” of the region and a leading producer of prawns and shrimp. He cited the ongoing Angola agro-processing project, which has already attracted $1 billion in investment and is projected to reach $5 billion in production within three years, before being turned over to Guyanese ownership.
Meanwhile, on trade and investment, the Guyanese leader highlighted his administration’s success in reducing tariffs from 35 per cent to 15 per cent in key markets, creating new export opportunities for Guyanese products. He noted that major international financial institutions and corporations, including Citibank, have been drawn to Guyana’s growing economy, cementing its place as a rising player in global food, climate, and energy security.
The President said that his Government’s development strategy is not just about economic growth but about improving quality of life for all Guyanese.
“It doesn’t come from being fanciful or crying about the problem. It comes from real policies, real initiatives. It comes from understanding the broader issues and developing policies that are directed to addressing these problems that are external in nature but have great internal implications. That is why our country is gaining more and more global recognition,” he told the crowd.