President Dr. Irfaan Ali has sounded the alarm over rising security challenges in the region, warning that transnational criminal networks and Venezuela’s illegal territorial claims pose a direct threat to Guyana’s sovereignty, stability and future.
Opening his address to hundreds of supporters attending at a public meeting in Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, on Saturday evening, President Ali cautioned that the next few days represent a critical moment for the nation.
“Tonight we are nine days away from writing history on the right pages or turning back the clock of development. Nine days away from securing this country or destroying this country. The decision is about children, parents, community and country,” he said.
Even so, Ali noted the region’s rapidly shifting environment, highlighting the increased military presence, particularly by the United States, in the past 72 hours.
“The region is faced with a challenge that is currently confronting us…a security risk in this region. A risk of illicit trade, a risk with security, with our sovereignty. These criminal networks can destabilize our region and our economy. They can do the work of rogue regimes and we know, let us not be blind to the fact that Venezuela poses a threat to Guyana,” Dr Ali said.
His concerns were reinforced in a statement issued by the Government of Guyana, which said it “views with grave concern the threat to peace and security in the region posed by transnational organised crime and narco-terrorism, often involving criminal networks such as the Cartel de los Soles of Venezuela, designated as a terrorist organisation by some countries in the region.”
According to the statement, such criminal organisations have the potential to “overwhelm state institutions, undermine democracy, pervert the rule of law and threaten human dignity and development.” The Government underscored the need for “strengthened cooperation and concerted efforts at the national, regional, hemispheric and global levels to effectively combat this menace.”
President Ali, meanwhile, stressed the importance of Guyana’s growing global alliances, noting that the country’s seat on the United Nations Security Council has boosted international confidence in its leadership.
“Today, like never before, we have every single block of the world supporting us in our sovereignty and our national security. This did not happen by accident. This happened by having good global leadership that people trust, respect and are willing to work with for a better world,” President Ali said.
Reaffirming this commitment, the government’s statement added “We are committed to working with our bilateral partners to find meaningful solutions and will support regional and global initiatives aimed at dismantling criminal networks to safeguard our shared security. By confronting transnational organised crime and narco-terrorism with unity, we reaffirm our dedication to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the region remains a Zone of Peace.”
President Ali therefore urged citizens to reflect on who has demonstrated the leadership and credibility to safeguard the country’s security.
“Which government has proven to this country and to the world that we have the talent and ability to make decisions that are right for our country and that will keep our country safe? How can they stand and tell the world we support democracy when they tried to rig the election in 2020?” he posed.
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