Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali was sworn in as the Ninth Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on Sunday, beginning his second term in office, which will run from 2025 to 2030.
The oath of office was administered by Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Roxane George, before thousands who gathered on the lawns of State House, the President’s official residence in Georgetown.
“The love I draw from you, the people, and from my family reminds me daily that leadership is not a pursuit of self but a covenant of service. It is not the benefit of a few but the upliftment of all. It is in that spirit that I have taken the oath of office,” President Ali declared.
Dr Ali opened his inaugural address by extending gratitude to all who played a role in the elections, including polling staff, members of the security services, and both local and international observers.
He noted their contributions ensured that democracy was preserved and that the elections were “smooth, fair and well managed.”
He also thanked his outgoing Cabinet for delivering “unprecedented development” and laying a strong foundation for the years ahead. His remarks concluded with a personal acknowledgement of his family, including First Lady Arya Ali, their two sons, and his parents, who were seated in the front row.
Underscoring inclusivity, he said every Guyanese belongs to the national story.
“From Essequibo to Berbice and Demerara, from Linden and New Amsterdam to Lethem and Mabaruma, every strand of our national tapestry has spoken. Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese, our first people across the hinterland… One Guyana is not a slogan. It is a lived ethic, equal in dignity, respect.”
To those who did not support him, Ali pledged to represent their voices as well.
“To those who have not supported me, know that I am your President too. Your hopes and worries belong at the center of our world. We will not let yesterday’s hurts script tomorrow’s hope,” he said.
Emphasising visibility and accountability, he added, “I will spend as much time listening to Linden, New Amsterdam, Lethem and Mabaruma as I do in Georgetown because government must be seen, heard and felt in every community, village and township.”
With the elections now behind the country, Ali called on all Guyanese to embrace “the higher call of nation-building.”
“I am not the President of some Guyanese. I am the President of all Guyana. That principle has guided me and my government over the last five years, and it shall remain my compass in the years ahead. Our greatest achievements always come when we stand together. Today I pledge to be a president for every community, every sector, and every Guyanese,” Dr Ali pledged.
Looking ahead, the President said the next five years will “demand the best of all of us to transform promises into reality.”
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