Guyana’s Ali holds talks with US lawmakers on security, regional stability
President Dr Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Mark Phillips along with Cabinet Ministers and other senior Government officials with the visiting bipartisan United States congressional delegation and US Ambassador Nicole Theriot at the Office of the President in Georgetown
Key Points(5)
- Guyana — President Irfaan Ali met with a bipartisan U.S.
- congressional delegation led by Senator Christopher Coons this week as the lawmakers visited Guyana as part of a wider mission to the Western Hemisphere.
- The delegation met with Ali at the Office of the President on Tuesday for discussions focused on strengthening the Guyana-U.S.
- relationship and advancing shared interests in economic prosperity, security and regional stability.
- Ali said he outlined his government’s development agenda since 2020, including investments in infrastructure, food and energy security, health care, education and agriculture.
Guyana President Irfaan Ali met with a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation led by Senator Christopher Coons this week as the lawmakers visited Guyana as part of a wider mission to the Western Hemisphere.
The delegation met with Ali at the Office of the President on Tuesday for discussions focused on strengthening the Guyana-U.S. relationship and advancing shared interests in economic prosperity, security and regional stability.
Ali said he outlined his government’s development agenda since 2020, including investments in infrastructure, food and energy security, health care, education and agriculture.
“I outlined my Government’s transformation agenda since 2020, including our investments in infrastructure and development, food and energy security, health care, education and agriculture,” Ali said in a social media post following the meeting.
The president also reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to working with the United States to combat drug trafficking and transnational organised crime, strengthen security cooperation and uphold respect for territorial sovereignty.
U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot joined the congressional delegation during the meeting.
Ali was accompanied by Prime Minister Mark Phillips; Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd; Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation Zulfikar Ally; National Security Adviser Gerry Gouveia; and other senior government officials.
The visit marks the latest high-level engagement between Guyana and U.S. lawmakers as the two countries deepen cooperation on security and economic issues.
Previous congressional visit
The last bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation to visit Guyana was in March 2023, when a delegation led by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith held talks with Guyanese government and opposition officials as well as private-sector representatives.
That delegation included Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama and Republican Reps. Carol Miller of West Virginia, Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota, Beth Van Duyne of Texas, Mike Carey of Ohio and Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota.
During the 2023 visit, U.S. lawmakers met with government officials and opposition leaders to discuss governance, economic issues and the importance of bipartisan cooperation.
They also met with business leaders from Guyana and the United States to learn more about Guyana’s rapid economic growth and explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral and economic cooperation.
The House Ways and Means Committee is the oldest committee in the U.S. Congress and is the House’s principal tax-writing committee. It has jurisdiction over revenue and related matters, including tariffs, international trade policy and U.S. public debt.
