PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali recently reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to ending drug trafficking, gold smuggling, and organised crime.
This is not just a government policy statement. It is a call to action for society’s survival. His assertion that these crimes threaten our democracy, freedoms, and social fabric demands strong national action and firm collective determination.
The President highlighted a truth that many in our region overlook. Organised crime is not just a law-enforcement issue or an economic issue. It acts like a corrosive acid, gradually weakening the democratic institutions that good governance relies on.
When criminal networks operate without punishment, they do more than traffic drugs or smuggle gold. They undermine the rule of law, corrupt officials at every level and take away the basic freedoms of ordinary Guyanese.
What makes the President’s position particularly commendable is his clear rejection of the false choice between sovereignty and international co-operation.
Guyana’s long-standing partnerships with the United States, Brazil, Colombia, and Suriname have been essential in stopping drug trafficking and breaking up smuggling rings.
The government’s seizure of over four tonnes of cocaine in 2024, achieved through collaboration with US law enforcement, marks a significant win against crime. However, we must not become complacent.
The rise of new synthetic drugs, the complexity of transnational criminal organisations and the monetary temptations for impoverished citizens to engage in smuggling, all require us to step up our enforcement efforts.
Gold smuggling also needs our focus. One smuggler can cost Guyana over billions in lost revenue; this is money that could be used to improve education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Establishing inter-agency task forces to tighten gold-export protocols and carrying out intelligence-led operations that result in arrests show effective governance.
These efforts must move faster. The urge to cut corners for profit in this sector cannot be ignored. Those who take government incentives but still engage in illegal exports must face consequences strong enough to deter others.
The President’s stance also supports the idea that combating transnational crime and maintaining regional peace go hand in hand. Guyana does not have to choose between territorial sovereignty and working with international partners who want to disrupt criminal supply chains.
Instead, the country can be independent while also embracing strategic co-operation, demanding transparency, fairness, and respect for its sovereignty, while ensuring that criminal networks cannot find safe havens.
Guyana is at a crucial point. With new oil wealth emerging, the nation faces a choice: will it let criminal networks hinder progress and distort its economy as in other parts of the region?
Or will it take a different road where democratic institutions, the rule of law, and good governance lay the groundwork for inclusive, sustainable growth? The President’s choice is clear. The real question now is whether all Guyanese will show the same determination.