A DELEGATION led by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali is currently in the United States of America at the invitation of the United States Government. Also in the delegation are Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo; Foreign Minister, Hugh Todd and Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud.

Relations between the Guyana Government and that of the United States of America have never been better. This is reflected in several ways, not least of which has been the role played by the United States in the restoration of democracy to Guyana on October 5, 1992 after nearly three decades of PNC dictatorial rule and, more recently, against attempts by the APNU+AFC to rig the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The United States’ assistance to Guyana has had a long history dating back to the pre-1992 period when former President Jimmy Carter through his Carter Center applied pressure on the Desmond Hoyte administration to agree on electoral reforms, which resulted in the holding of democratic elections, won by the PPP/C under the leadership of Dr Cheddi Jagan. It was also instrumental in the country’s reconstruction process by way of technical and financial assistance, which resulted in a significant turnaround of the Guyana economy. Indeed, Guyana during the early years of the new PPP/C administration was seen as an economic model of a highly-indebted poor country that successfully managed to navigate its way out of poverty to sustainable economic and social development. Much of that credit is attributable to Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who was the then Minister of Finance under the Cheddi Jagan presidency.

With the discovery of oil in commercial quantities by the US-based Exxon Mobil, relations between the two countries became further enhanced at the economic and technical levels.

The current engagement between representatives of the two governments, according to President Ali, focuses on areas of mutual interest, areas of strength and an expansion of the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Meetings were held with senior State Department officials including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and US Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Greaves. According to President Ali, the engagements were fruitful and highlighted the importance of closer collaboration.

During an interview hosted by the Atlantic Council on the way forward on Guyana-US relations, President Ali emphasised the need to harmonise the plans and programmes of Guyana with the aspirations of the United States, both at the governmental level and that of the private sector.

“We cannot have a partnership unless the two countries have a fulsome understanding of the development priorities, the challenges and opportunities and how those challenges can be mitigated and how those opportunities can be advanced,” the President said.

With Guyana’s economy now on the upward trajectory, thanks to the impact of oil, the importance of stronger economic ties becomes all the more necessary and relevant. This point was emphasised by President Ali, who noted that even though Guyana is an emerging hydrocarbon market, a very important part of the country’s development trajectory is to ensure that the economy does not remain hydrocarbon based. The economy must continue along the path of economic diversification with emphasis on agriculture and food security, along the lines envisaged by CARICOM aimed at a 25 per cent reduction of the region’s food-import bill by 2025. The realisation of such an outcome will require a considerable outlay of capital and technology.

That is why the relationship with the US is so critical, because we share common values on democracy and on freedom, which President Ali said were brought to the forefront at the meeting with the US Secretary of State. According to President Ali: “The US has always been very supportive of the growth and development of our country, and more recently, the US has been very instrumental and supportive in ensuring that democracy prevailed in our country and that came about because of the fundamental value system of the US. The way the United States values democracy and the political party I come from, we share those values.”

The fact is that Guyana and the United States share much in common, both at the political, economic and cultural levels. The United States is home to the largest segment of the Guyanese diaspora, many of whom have been making significant contributions to the economic and cultural landscape of the United States.

The visit by President Ali and his delegation will no doubt deepen and cement the bonds of friendship between the two countries, based on the principles of mutual respect and non-interference.