With the General and Regional Elections just days away, President Dr Irfaan Ali has urged citizens to stay the course of national development and not allow progress to be reversed, particularly at a time when Guyana and the wider region are grappling with mounting security threats.
Addressing a large gathering in Herstelling on Saturday evening, President Ali emphasised the importance of aligning with international partners to confront the dangers posed by cross-border criminal enterprises and narco-terrorist groups.
He made it clear that the administration is unwavering in its commitment to protect Guyana’s sovereignty and secure its future from the influence of destabilising criminal forces.
“We must strategically position ourselves alongside all efforts aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organisations,” President Ali said. “These networks not only threaten our economy and regional stability, but they can also be manipulated by rogue states to advance disruptive agendas,” he added.
The President pointed specifically to the threat from Venezuela, highlighting the risks posed by criminal elements operating from that territory and elsewhere in the region. He stressed that Guyana must continue to build credibility as a reliable and committed partner in the global fight against organised crime.
On Friday, the Government of Guyana released an official statement expressing deep concern over the impact of transnational crime and narco-terrorism on regional peace and security. The statement cited the influence of organised criminal networks such as Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles, which has been labelled a terrorist organisation by some nations.
“These entities possess the ability to overpower governmental institutions, weaken democratic processes, erode the rule of law, and jeopardise both human rights and national development,” the government said.
The statement reinforced Guyana’s position on the need for coordinated action at all levels—nationally, regionally, and globally—to effectively confront these threats.
Reaffirming its commitment, Guyana stated: “We remain dedicated to engaging with our international partners to pursue concrete solutions. We will actively support regional and global strategies that seek to dismantle these criminal networks and protect collective security. In standing united against transnational crime and narco-terrorism, we demonstrate our resolve to uphold law and preserve the region as a Zone of Peace.”
