THE holidays are now behind us and it is back to business. This is indeed the case with President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the entire PPP/C administration as the work of government continues to pick up momentum from the past years.

And what a better start than that of taking up its membership at the United Nations Security Council for a two-year term 2024-2025. The flag of Guyana was installed by Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues alongside those of other members of the Security Council.

This honour could not have come at a better time as Guyana is currently playing a lead role in pushing the peace agenda in the region. This would give the country an added voice which could be used to promote world peace and the search for a more equitable and just global architecture.

As pointed out by Ambassador Rodrigues, Guyana will seek a people-centred approach including the involvement of women and youths in search of solutions, mindful of the fact that conflict is a driver of poverty and underdevelopment and therefore inimical to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The theme of Guyana’s participation in the Security Council is very apt and relevant, addressing major global issues such as climate change, food insecurity, peacebuilding and conflict prevention, women empowerment , protection of children in armed conflict and youth, peace and security.

At the domestic level, the PPP/C administration is pushing ahead with its people-oriented approach to development with emphasis on job creation, enhanced social welfare and infrastructural development. Among these are the US$35 million Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge in Linden, the contract of which was signed early in the new year.

Ongoing works are progressing well on a number of mega-projects such as the Corentyne River Bridge, the new four-lane Demerara River Bridge and the Gas-to-shore projects which when completed would have a transformative impact on the Guyanese people.

These major infrastructural projects are closely aligned to the economic boom the country is currently experiencing especially in oil and gas but also in the other sectors such as agriculture, mining and tourism.

The overall impact of these developments is an increase in the size of the national pie which in turn will allow for more resources to be channeled in the area of sustainable human development.
Guyana’s international profile has been greatly enhanced with its recent election to the United Nations Security Council. Credit must be given to President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the Foreign Affairs ministry for the hard and proactive role in putting Guyana on the international spotlight.