Latest update February 25th, 2026 12:59 AM
‘Safer borders, booming economy’ …Pres. Ali boasts in Republic address
(Kaieteur News) – Delivering his address at the Flag-Raising Ceremony to mark the 56th Republic Anniversary, President Dr. Irfaan Ali outlined sweeping gains in security noting that Guyana becoming safer and highlighted social and economic growth.
President Ali stressed that Guyana’s borders are becoming safer and its territorial integrity being firmly defended. He noted that on the world stage, the government has assembled an able and capable team to argue the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). “Let no one be mistaken: history and international law are on our side. Our borders are sacred, and we will defend them,” Ali declared.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali
He pointed to improved national security. Ali outlined crime statistics comparing the periods 2016–2020 and 2021–2025. During the earlier period, there was an average of 2,827 serious crimes per year. Since 2021, that figure has fallen to 1,441, an almost 50 per cent decline. “A nation cannot build if it fears for its borders. Our valiant men and women in uniform stand vigilant, their capabilities boosted with unprecedented resources,” the President stated.
He added, “I want to recognise members of the diplomatic community, and I want to thank them for their steadfast support for our country, our sovereignty and our territorial integrity.” Turning to the economy, Ali reported that in 2025 Guyana’s economy grew by 19.3 per cent, building on what he described as five years of record-breaking expansion. He stated that while oil and gas continue to attract global attention, the non-oil economy has recorded robust growth.
Last year, agriculture expanded by 11.5 per cent, bauxite by 53.4 per cent, gold by 11.6 per cent, manufacturing by 20 per cent, construction by 31 per cent, the financial sector by 16.9 per cent and technical services by 35.7 per cent. The non-oil economy alone grew by 14.3 per cent.
“This phenomenal record is not a historical accident; it is the blueprint for our tomorrow, expected to continue through 2026 and beyond. Our economic fundamentals are solid. But we are not stopping there. We are modernising our Republic. We are laying a digital backbone, wiring our nation for the future, ensuring that every Guyanese can participate in the digital economy of the future,” Ali said.
He added that economic expansion is translating into opportunities for citizens, noting that between 2020 and 2024 some 104,000 new jobs were created.
On the regional and international front, President Ali outlined that Guyana is now a leader in climate action and is helping to drive food security efforts within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). He also noted, “As the world grapples to avoid an energy crisis, they are increasingly looking to us as a model for energy security.”
The Golden Arrowhead was hoisted at the Flag Raising Ceremony to mark Guyana’s 56th Republic Anniversary.
Further, Ali stressed that his administration is focused on ensuring prosperity improves the lives of citizens through investments in education, healthcare and infrastructure. He said these targeted interventions are aimed at reducing inequality and expanding access to services across communities.
President Ali underscored the importance of national pride anchored in shared prosperity and inclusive growth, so that every home, village and community can feel the impact of development. He stressed that building a society where national pride is meaningful and that national pride is non-negotiable.
“A pride grounded in shared prosperity, where growth is for all communities, where growth and development is for every segment of the Guyanese population, where every home, every village and every community can feel the impact of development, can have access to the services that the State offers in a way and manner that adds value to their life, to their families, and to their communities,” Ali said.
As the Golden Arrowhead flies high, he said it should serve as a reminder of both progress made and the path ahead. “A Republic of builders. A Republic of achievers. A Republic of one people, one nation, one destiny,” President Ali stated.
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