“Guyana will not be intimidated, coerced” – President Ali tells Maduro

Mar 22, 2025 News

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…says country open to talks but sovereignty not up for negotiation

Kaieteur News- Following the recent threats by Venezuela to the Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, President Irfaan Ali made it clear on Friday that Guyana will not be intimidated or coerced.

The Head-of-State said while the country is open to dialogue with respect, its sovereignty is not up for negotiation.

President Ali was at the time speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps’ Hangar which is located at the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

Addressing the recent events by neighbouring Venezuela in his speech, the President said Guyana believes in diplomacy and in dialogue but not dialogue under duress.

“Our neighbours would have chosen on more than one occasion to violate the ICJ (International Court of Justice) orders and Argyle Declaration. The very fact that they would see to hold an election in a territory that does not belong to them tells you that they are not serious about the dialogue. They are not serious about the Argyle Declaration and we will not be drawn into any discourse under duress. We are all for dialogue, but dialogue with respect, dialogue with dignity, dialogue with a sense of purpose and dialogue that we can trust,” the President said.

President Ali made it clear that if Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro wants to talk, he must undo the acts that violated the Argyle Declaration and the orders of the ICJ.

“Let it first demonstrate good faith, let it first respect the rule of law until then, there will be no talks. Sovereignty is not a matter for negotiation. Even as we repose our confidence in the rule of international law and in diplomacy, we are not blind to the realities to the world we live in,” the President declared.

Calling for respect to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in a simple message to Venezuela, President Ali said, “To Venezuela, the message is simple, respect our sovereignty, threaten our sovereignty and we will resist. Guyana will not be intimidated. Guyana will not be coerced and let me repeat for those who still doubt, we will defend every square inch of our land; we will protect every drop of water in our seas. We will safeguard every citizen of this Republic.”

Further, President Ali said that Guyana and its people will make every investment necessary to ensure it has what it takes to secure the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“A strong nation must have the means to deter and identify threats that is why we are investing in our Defence Force, not for war, not for aggression but for protection, for development and for national security,” he added.

Meanwhile, speaking about the newly established Air Corps’ Hangar, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, said that the facility is just not a building but a statement.

“It says that Guyana is prepared, that our Defence Force is evolving and that our skies will be watched and protected and it will be sure to serve our people. Our eyes will be sharper, our reach will be longer, our response will be swifter, the Guyana Defence Force Air Corps will be strengthened, our fleet will be better maintained, better equipped and better resourced,” he said.

The President noted that his government will continue to invest in the Defence Force so that it can safeguard Guyana’s economic potential while ensuring investors have confidence in stability.

“We are not arming ourselves for aggression, we are arming our self for protection, we are not building a Defence Force for war, we are building a Defence Force for resilience, we are not preparing for conflict, we are preparing for any eventuality. Our military must be ready not just to defend our borders but to assist in disasters to respond to emergencies and to contribute to national development,” he reiterated.

Meanwhile, speaking of the new facility, GDF’s Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan revealed that the hangar was acquired from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in 2023 via a Defence Board decision and through a publicly tendered contract to the tune of $231,178,563.

The rehabilitation project which started in February 2024 was executed by Synergy General Contracting and Engineering Services.

According to Brigadier Khan, now operating at two international airports, the Ogle location will certainly afford GDF the opportunity to enhance its response time and increase operational reach.

“Importantly, it is much closer to our maritime sector and increasingly significant resource and operation time domain and I may add what more better can we have than to have another GDF hangar,” he noted.

He added, “While our roles are distinct, the synergy of operating at this airport is filled with opportunities that only can make us better at executing our service to our country, and also immediately, I see search and rescue operation as being a key function of this relationship.”

The facility which would allow GDF to add 24/7 response capabilities to SAR missions and emergencies operations, features an executive lounge, washroom areas for the crews, a briefing and conference area among other amenities.

(“Guyana will not be intimidated, coerced” – President Ali tells Maduro)

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