RECOGNISED for his leadership in regional cooperation, Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali was conferred with Barbados’ highest honour, the Order of Freedom of Barbados.
The Guyanese of Head-of-State is among several honorees who will receive the island’s highest national award in celebration of its independence.

He is being recognised for his “strong commitment to enhanced cooperation and collaboration to achieve regional integration and to foster deeper social and economic partnerships, particularly in relation to food and nutrition security and for the upliftment of the people of Barbados and the region.”

Since assuming presidential office back in 2020, President Ali has been a bold voice in championing enhanced collaboration among Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations.
President Ali is lead Head of Government with responsibility for Agriculture in CARICOM and over the past three years, President Ali has established several strategies to increase food production and reduce the region’s hefty food-import bill.

While the award is mostly given to Barbadians, it can be given to a distinguished person who is not a citizen of Barbados. Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, is also among the list of Independence Day honorees who were conferred with the national award.