PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has underscored Guyana’s growing role as a regional leader in disaster response and humanitarian support, highlighting the country’s recent contributions to crisis-hit Caribbean neighbours.
Speaking at a closing reception for the Southcom-supported Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) mission last week, President Ali situated Guyana firmly within the wider Caribbean community, noting that the region shares both opportunities and challenges.
He stressed that these challenges do not recognise national borders, and that as a result, responses cannot be confined within them.
“Guyana is part of a wider Caribbean community together, Guyana and the Caribbean share both opportunities and challenges, from public-health threats to natural disasters. The issues we face do not recognise national borders and [as] such, our responses cannot be confined within them. In this context, your mission takes an even greater significance by contributing to the strengthening of Guyana’s healthcare capacity; you are also contributing to improving the resilience of our region,” he said.
President Ali explained that by helping to build systems better equipped to respond to crisis, to adapt to changing circumstances and to support the well-being of people across national boundaries, the LAMAT has gone beyond short-term medical interventions, contributing meaningfully to the strengthening of Guyana’s healthcare system and its long-term development trajectory.
“Because of your investment in us and your partnership and support in us, we are now positioned as a leading response team in this region.”
“And over the last couple of years, we have led from the front, most times as a first responder in natural disasters across this region, and a lot of that is because of the capacity building and strengthening as a result of this partnership,” he said, adding that these achievements were rooted in the deepening of operational capabilities and co-operative frameworks.
The President also praised the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), commending the men and women in uniform for their “enormous work” and their willingness to deploy beyond Guyana’s borders in support of regional partners.
He highlighted the presence of 70 service members involved in the LAMAT mission in Guyana and pointed to 52 Guyanese in uniform currently in Jamaica, where they are assisting with post-hurricane Melissa reconstruction.
“We have 52 of our men and women in Jamaica in uniform, building more than 200 roofs and homes back for the people of Jamaica,” he said.
President Ali noted that Guyana’s support has extended to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Jamaica and Haiti.
President Ali linked Guyana’s expanding disaster-response role to international and regional partnerships, noting that such co-operation has been central to enhancing both national capacity and Caribbean resilience.
“Beyond the medical interventions, there is a legacy of knowledge, collaboration and strength and capacity that will continue to benefit Guyana long after your departure, through your engagement with our local professionals to facilitate the exchange of skills and ideas that will enhance the quality of care within our system. You have introduced new perspectives, reinforced best practices and inspired confidence among those who will carry this work forward,” he said.
The mission began on March 17 and concluded on the 27th. With 80 U.S. medical personnel, this year’s mission was said to be the largest contingent with visiting medical teams working alongside local healthcare providers at several institutions, including the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the Cheddi Jagan Dental School, the Diamond Regional Hospital, the West Demerara Regional Hospital and the De Kinderen Regional Hospital.
President Ali emphasised that investments in training, equipment, and institutional strengthening have derived from collaboration with partners such as the United States that have enabled Guyana to transition from a recipient of support to a frontline contributor in regional emergencies.
The mission utilised more than US$300,000 in medical supplies while facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience among medical professionals.
