Dear Editor,

It is without any doubt that His Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali can be considered the most energetic, wise, courageous, visionary and genuine president of Guyana who makes promises and fulfills them. Since taking office three and a half years ago, President Dr. Ali has exhibited all the characteristics of a true, prudent and informed leader in the sense that he has not only fulfilled most of the promises made by the PPP/C during the elections, but he has also done the same for those he made during his several outreaches across the country. In those outreaches, he has not only made promises to the residents, but he has solved many if not most of their outstanding problems, and in doing so, he has also made them hopeful and has inspired them to achieve their goals, especially the youths who are the country’s most valuable assets.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has made the conscious decision to invest in the youths who are 65 percent of the country’s population by providing them with the necessary training to improve and or upgrade their skills and helped them to grow and mature into the most powerful, confident and happy versions of themselves. As evident in his “One Guyana” initiative which among other things is meant to unite the people and improve their well-being in their daily pursuit of happiness, the President has assured them that he will do everything in his power to make sure that everyone co-exists peacefully. To achieve these goals, His Excellency has created a culture of inclusiveness and harmony in the country to reduce conflict and prejudices and to ensure that no one is left out of the development process and economic benefits and that everyone, regardless of race, status or party affiliation has access to all government programmes and resources.

President Dr. Ali has said many times that he is committed to govern in the interest of all Guyanese, determine the goals of the government, craft the strategies and policies to achieve them, and embolden most if not all government officials from entry level to middle and senior management officials to implement them without fear or favour and without prejudice. He is aware of critics who will disapprove of his policies, but is not afraid to confront and challenge them to provide better alternatives. His Excellency is known for his courage, vision, integrity, authenticity and influence which are some of the qualities of a true leader. He is also a very objective, practical and creative leader who is convinced that with its huge oil reserves, its high GDP and enormous development projects, Guyana will emerge as one of the most attractive and prosperous countries in the 21st century for both its citizens and foreign investors.

At the local, regional, hemispheric and international levels, President Dr. Ali has led by example, fostering strong relationships with his CARICOM and Latin America counterparts, the United States and the European Union, among others, particularly to counter the threats made by the Maduro regime in Venezuela to annex the oil rich region of Essequibo. One month after gaining a seat as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Guyana assumed the rotating presidency of the UNSC on February 1, 2024, which once again placed it on the global leadership under the governance of President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The Guyana Head of State who is currently the President of the UNSC, chaired a high-level open debate on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 under the theme, “The Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security.”

In his address to United Nations Security Council, His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali has fervently appealed to the members of UNSC to seriously address the issue of conflict and its harmful effects on food security and climate change. He underscored the critical need for a paradigm shift in addressing the nexus between climate change, food security, and international peace and security. He warned that climate change is expected to intensify and expand significantly as a driver of armed conflict which can induce food insecurity and the threat of famine as is currently the case in Africa where more than 150 million people are facing acute food insecurity. The Guyanese Head of State acknowledged that these issues are not isolated but are deeply interconnected with the health, safety and existence of the planet and hence globality stability. Dr Ali called for a targeted approach by members of the UNSC to address these interconnected impediments which have exacerbated conflict and instability.

Leading by example, President Dr. Ali has emphatically stated that Guyana has been at the forefront of discussions related to several global issues including climate change, food security, energy security and international peace and security on the international stage. He was delighted to have the opportunity highlight to the UNSC members the possibilities to improve international efforts to strengthen the food systems, prevent acute food insecurity and foster preparedness. His address to the UNSC was aimed at promoting enhanced understanding and coordinated and proactive responses to address the linkages between food insecurity and climate change. The high-level debate represented a signature event for His Excellency Dr. Ali as president of Guyana and the UNSC.

Sincerely,
Dr. Asquith Rose