-says country committed to peace, multilateralism
ADDRESSING the 81st United Nations General Assembly, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday spotlighted Guyana’s rapid social and economic progress, while urging bold reforms to make the United Nations “fit for purpose” amid escalating global crises.
President Ali reported notable national advances, citing, universal healthcare expansion and improved access, free education initiatives, accelerated delivery of affordable housing, modern infrastructure buildout, digitised public services and expanded financing for small and medium-sized enterprises to boost jobs and inclusion.
Positioning Guyana as a climate and biodiversity leader, he pointed to the rapid growth of the Global Biodiversity Alliance from 17 to 138 members in a year and progress under Guyana’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy.
Pushing for UN reform, President Ali advocated a Security Council that reflects 21st-century multipolarity, including permanent representation for Africa and Latin America/Caribbean, and stronger, more transparent multilateral institutions.
“We have before us a new opportunity for sustainable development. Development must
not merely make our economies richer; it must make our societies better. We must
not allow further slippage in our pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. We
must renew our commitment to them —not as an inventory of promises, but as a
covenant with our peoples and a practical blueprint for ensuring that development
reaches every citizen, protects generations yet unborn and creates lasting, inclusive
prosperity,” he said.
On the global front, Dr Ali reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to peace and multilateralism, backing a two-state solution in the Middle East, urging ends to the wars in Ukraine and Sudan, and calling for a people-centred, development-focused approach to Cuba. He reiterated support for a Haitian-led path to stability with sustained international resources.
“We have the possibility of silencing the guns through dialogue and diplomacy. The
world does not need more sophisticated instruments of destruction; it needs a more
sophisticated capacity for peace,” he said adding, “In this regard, I reiterate Guyana’s call for a just and lasting solution to the crisis in the Middle East, one that brings an end to the suffering of innocent civilians and recognises the Palestinian people’s legitimate right to self-determination and to a secure homeland of their own. We reiterate our support for the two-State solution.”
Underscoring regional security, Dr. Ali highlighted Guyana as a founding member of the Shield of the Americas an initiative launched in 2026 with the United States and regional partners to counter transnational crime through intelligence sharing and coordination.
“Guyana has worked closely with the United States and thirteen other like-minded nations that believe in building a Western Hemisphere that values freedom, peace, economic prosperity and have a shared responsibility and commitment to fighting transnational crime and criminal network,” President Ali said adding, “It is our collective responsibility to never allow our region to be overtaken by gangs or criminal networks. We understand that it is only through partnership, shared intelligence, and co-operation that we can effectively tackle the threats they pose to our economies and the livelihoods of our citizens.”
