PRESIDENT Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s New Year’s Address to the Nation sought to situate Guyana at a defining moment in its modern history, one marked by economic momentum, democratic affirmation and heightened national responsibility.
Speaking against a backdrop of global uncertainty and ongoing tensions over Guyana’s territorial integrity, the President framed 2026 not simply as another calendar year, but as a test of whether recent gains can be translated into durable improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.
In a wide-ranging address, President Ali pointed to 2025 as a year in which Guyana advanced despite external pressures, including the persistent controversy surrounding the Essequibo region.
He argued that economic growth over the past year was not abstract or statistical, but visible in expanded schools, upgraded hospitals, improved water access, increased incomes and a decline in serious crime. “These are not statistics or slogans,” the President said, describing them as the “lived experience of a country on the move.”
Central to his remarks was the assertion that Guyana has moved beyond being described as a nation of unrealised potential.
Instead, he suggested, the country is now defining itself by execution—turning opportunity into infrastructure, services and income support. The opening of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, referenced as a symbol of national transformation, was cited as emblematic of a more connected and accessible Guyana.
The President also highlighted the 2025 general and regional elections as a critical democratic milestone, noting that the outcome reaffirmed Guyana’s democratic resilience and delivered a renewed mandate for inclusive growth and national unity.
In his view, the electoral process provided legitimacy to the government’s policy direction and a signal of political stability to both citizens and international partners.
Looking ahead to 2026, President Ali emphasised that the government’s focus will shift from growth alone to how that growth is experienced.
Plans outlined include the rollout of a national digital backbone to modernise public services, a national electronic identification system to simplify access to government programmes, and further decentralisation of services to communities.
Measures aimed at increasing disposable income—through higher wages, direct support and tax relief—were also highlighted, alongside accelerated housing development and expanded community infrastructure.
The address devoted particular attention to youth development, with the President describing young people as central to Guyana’s future rather than peripheral beneficiaries of progress.
He pledged continued investment in education, skills training, entrepreneurship, culture and sport, framing productivity not as an obligation but as a pathway to dignity and independence. “In building your future, you are building Guyana’s future,” he said.
At the same time, the President acknowledged that optimism must be tempered by caution.
He warned that geopolitical instability and regional tensions require Guyana to remain vigilant, prepared and united.
Commitments were reiterated to strengthen the Disciplined Services, enhance border security and pursue peace through diplomacy and adherence to international law. “It is because we are prepared that we move forward with confidence, not fear,” he noted.
President Ali struck a unifying tone, calling on Guyanese to choose co-operation over division and purpose over cynicism. He pledged to govern with integrity, fairness and compassion, and to ensure that development reaches every region and community.
The address sets out an ambitious vision, one that assumes continuity of economic growth, effective public administration and sustained social cohesion.
As 2026 unfolds, the challenge will be less about articulating national confidence and more about ensuring that promised reforms, services and safeguards are delivered consistently and equitably.
For a country navigating rapid change, the year ahead will test whether progress can be deepened without leaving segments of society behind, and whether unity can be maintained amid rising expectations.
