Dear Editor,
SEVERAL days ago, President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s address to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly was, in my view, an important statement of Guyana’s growing confidence and engagement on the international stage.
Editor, at a time when our world is confronted by unwanted wars; increasing humanitarian crises; geopolitical rivalry; food insecurity; climate pressures; and growing questions about the effectiveness of international institutions, President Ali used the world’s largest international platform to articulate Guyana’s perspective on several of the defining issues confronting humanity.
What stood out to me was the breadth of the address and the central principle connecting its various themes: in an increasingly fractured world, international co-operation, respect for international law, and effective multilateralism remain indispensable.
A strong defence of multilateralism was one of the most consequential aspects of the president’s address to the gathering.
The international system is undoubtedly under tremendous strain. Yet the shortcomings of institutions such as the United Nations cannot become an excuse for abandoning them. Rather, those shortcomings should strengthen the case for reform that is so desperately needed.
President Ali’s call for a Security Council that better reflects 21st century geopolitical realities, including permanent representation for Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, speaks to a long-standing concern of developing countries: institutions created for another era must evolve if they are to retain legitimacy and relevance in this one.
For small developing states such as Guyana, this matters immensely. Multilateralism provides countries, regardless of their size or their military and economic power, with a forum in which their sovereignty, interests, and perspectives can be heard.
Speaking on the issue of peace, the president also addressed some of the most difficult conflicts facing humanity.
His reiteration of Guyana’s support for Palestinian self-determination and a two-state solution, in which Israel and Palestine can exist in peace and security, placed Guyana within the continuing international search for a just and lasting settlement.
Similarly, his call for an end to the Russia–Ukraine war emphasised an essential truth: wars ultimately require political and diplomatic solutions if sustainable peace is to be achieved.
The attention he gave to Haiti and Cuba was equally significant from a Caribbean perspective. Haiti cannot be abandoned to instability and insecurity. Its people deserve sustained regional and international engagement. Cuba, likewise, remains an issue on which Caribbean states have consistently advocated dialogue and constructive engagement.
These were not merely references to distant international issues. They demonstrated Guyana’s willingness to contribute its voice to questions affecting our Caribbean neighbourhoods and the wider international community.
With respect to matters closer to home, the president addressed Venezuela, Guyana’s sovereignty, and the rule of law.
For Guyanese, few issues could be more important than the Guyana–Venezuela border controversy.
President Ali was firm and clear in presenting Guyana’s reliance on the International Court of Justice as part of a peaceful, rules-based approach to resolving the controversy.
His declaration that Guyana will respect the court’s eventual judgment, and his expectation that Venezuela will do likewise, carries significance far beyond our borders.
For small states such as ours, international law is not some abstract diplomatic concept: it is among our most important protections in a world where countries possess vastly different levels of military, economic, and geopolitical power and influence.
Guyana must therefore continue to stand resolutely and firmly for its territorial integrity, while demonstrating that disputes between states should be resolved through law, diplomacy, and peaceful international mechanisms rather than coercion.
Another notable element of President Ali’s address was his deliberate advocacy for Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations — a potentially historic opportunity for our country, the Caribbean, and developing countries around the world.
He highlighted her distinguished public-service record, which spans service as Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, alongside her wider international experience.
But her candidature carries symbolism beyond any single résumé.
The prospect of an Indigenous woman from Guyana and the Caribbean being considered for leadership of the United Nations speaks directly to the wider conversation about representation within the international system.
President Ali situated her candidature within his broader argument about the kind of leadership the United Nations requires: leadership capable of rebuilding trust, bridging divisions, and restoring greater unity of purpose to an institution operating in an increasingly divided world.
Whatever ultimately emerges from the selection process, Guyana placing one of its own before the international community for consideration for one of the world’s most consequential diplomatic offices is itself a significant moment for our country.
His Excellency presented to the world a more confident Guyana.
There is a broader lesson that I believe all Guyanese should take from this address.
The international influence of a country is not determined solely by its geographical size, population, or military strength. Influence can also come from diplomatic credibility, consistency, ideas, and the ability to connect national interests with principles that resonate internationally.
That is where I believe President Ali’s address was particularly effective.
Guyana’s territorial integrity was connected to international law. Caribbean concerns were connected to regional stability. The conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine were situated within a broader call for peace. United Nations reform was connected to the legitimate demand for greater representation for Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. And Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidature was presented within the larger question of leadership and renewal within the multilateral system.
Taken together, these positions presented a Guyana prepared to participate in international affairs not merely as an observer, but as a sovereign state willing to articulate its interests and contribute ideas to the wider international conversation.
That is an important evolution for our country.
Guyana today occupies an increasingly visible place internationally. With that visibility comes responsibility: to defend our sovereignty, maintain principled relationships, contribute constructively to international debates, and ensure that our diplomacy continues to reflect both our national interests and our commitment to peaceful international co-operation.
President Ali’s address demonstrated that Guyana intends to have a voice in those conversations and a seat at those tables.
Furthermore, it is fair to say that the central proposition emerging from his speech was both simple and consequential: a fractured world does not require less co-operation; it requires better co-operation.
From the podium of the United Nations General Assembly, Guyana made that case.
As a Guyanese, I believe there is value in seeing our country confidently contributing its voice to the difficult conversations shaping the future of our region and our world. In my view, President Ali delivered an excellent address, and it was a moment in which Guyanese can take pride.
Yours respectfully,
Jermaine Figueira
Former Member of Parliament
