–President Ali says in reflection on outcome of meeting with U.S Secretary of State
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday held bilateral discussions with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as regional leaders intensified diplomatic engagement with Washington on security, economic cooperation and development priorities.
On the sidelines of the ongoing CARICOM meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis, President Irfaan Ali addressed questions from reporters regarding regional security.
He noted that over the past few years, Guyana has engaged in “expressive amounts of bilateral revolution in social security” and emphasised ongoing efforts to coordinate on security challenges in the region. “This is an engagement that has been ongoing,” he said, adding that the goal is to ensure better coordination among countries in addressing regional security issues.
When asked about which CARICOM countries would be present at security meetings, President Ali admitted he was not fully aware of the attendance but stressed the importance of regional cooperation.
On comments made by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago regarding support for Guyana in the event of threats from Venezuela, he said, “Our duty as leaders is to ensure we work hard in the interests of our citizens, our countries, and our region. We have an inherent responsibility to support each other.” He underscored that Guyana would not stand by if the territorial integrity or sovereignty of any state were threatened.
On the topic of Cuba, President Ali explained Guyana’s approach to paying Cuban medical professionals directly.
“We need workers, and if the Cuban workforce can give us larger capacities and we hire those resources in accordance with our local labour laws and regulations, and we ensure that they are paid under the same conditions as any other worker… then I think you meet all the international criteria,” he said. He also noted that other Caribbean states facing pressure from the United States could consider adopting similar models.
President Ali spoke about the role of Trinidadian contractors in Guyana’s development, highlighting their contributions to transformative projects even before the country’s oil and gas sector took off.
He emphasised that bilateral engagement between Guyana and Trinidad should extend beyond energy, noting the importance of food security and the need to remove bureaucratic barriers to trade.
“I look forward to our bilateral being very progressive and future-driven,” he said, emphasising an open relationship with CARICOM and welcoming private-sector participation on equal terms.
Reflecting on discussions with U.S. officials, including Secretary Rubio, President Ali described the talks as very positive, focused, and productive.
The conversations addressed regional security, including challenges posed by Venezuela, as well as Cuba.
He noted that while Cuba presents complex issues, a framework is needed to support development, democratisation, and humanitarian aid. On the latter, he clarified, “Nothing prevents humanitarian aid from going to Cuba. The challenge Cuba has is power, where do you store food if you don’t have energy?”
The high-level meeting formed part of a series of engagements between Caribbean leaders and the United States during the summit, which has drawn international attention amid evolving geopolitical and economic challenges facing the region.
Secretary Rubio travelled to St Kitts and Nevis specifically to participate in discussions with CARICOM leaders and reaffirm U.S. partnerships across the Caribbean.
The United States has increasingly viewed Guyana as a strategic partner, particularly as the country’s rapidly growing oil sector reshapes regional energy dynamics and strengthens its global economic profile.
