GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana is observing its 56th anniversary as a republic on Monday, with President Irfaan Ali saying that national security is the bedrock upon which the country’s development agenda is being constructed.
He said that no country can ever hope to progress if it is constantly fearful that its borders are not secure.
Guyana has a long-standing border dispute with Venezuela, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to deliver a judgment on the matter later this year.
“When it comes to the defence of our territory, we’ve 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 said
President Ali said national security is the bedrock on which Guyana’s development agenda is being constructed, emphasising that no country can ever hope to progress if it is constantly fearful that its borders are not secure.
But as he addressed the flag-raising ceremony at Parliament Building in Georgetown on Sunday night, President Ali said that safety, security, and territorial integrity are all fundamental pillars that must underpin economic development and national confidence.
“While we still have much work to do on the security front, the indisputable reality is that our Republic is not just growing wealthier; it is growing safer, proving that development and security are two sides of the same sovereign coin.”
He said that the Cooperative Republic is undergoing a significant transformation aimed at modernising its institutions and defences to ensure that Guyanese citizens can live and work safely.
“As a collective unit, the Guyanese people, we thank our men and women in uniform. We thank them again and again for this selfless service. Know that your home, your land, and your brothers and sisters hold you up. Hold you up every day in strength, honour and dignity.”
He said his government is dedicating significant resources to help the country’s military better protect the borders and citizens, and that one important aspect is Guyana’s strong stance in the international community, particularly its backing for territorial integrity at the ICJ.
The head of state reiterated that history and international law are resolutely on Guyana’s side, underlining that the 1899 Arbitral Award is still in force and that the country’s borders are inviolable and non-negotiable.
Last Wednesday, Guyana commemorated the 60th anniversary of the signing of the February 1966 Geneva Agreement, which established the framework for the peaceful resolution of the border dispute between the country and Venezuela.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that the treaty is of immense legal and diplomatic significance in that it established the framework for the peaceful resolution of the controversy arising from Venezuela’s contention regarding the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which fixed the boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela.
“For nearly six decades, Guyana has acted in good faith, respecting both the letter and spirit of the Geneva Agreement, while maintaining full compliance with its international obligations.
“Guyana will continue to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity through lawful and peaceful means and with full confidence in the impartial adjudication of the International Court of Justice,” the ministry said.
In addition to border security, President Ali told the ceremony that there have been important advances in public safety, referring to the sharp decrease in serious crimes, noting that between 2016 and 2020, Guyana averaged 2,827 serious crimes per year, but from 2021 to 2025, this number decreased to 1,441, a reduction of almost 50 per cent.
He said these achievements were due to the hard work of law enforcement agencies, the security sector, and citizens who continue to work in partnership with the authorities to fight crime.
The president also thanked the international community for their support in helping Guyana protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“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.”
In his address, President Ali said national pride is the heartbeat of Guyanese identity and citizenship, a spirit that must be lived daily through our acts and choices.
“As our flag reaches its peak today, let it not just be a symbol of where we have been, but a signal of where we are going, …Together we are architects of this Republic, and together, we will build it higher than ever before,” President Ali said, emphasising that national pride is the right of every citizen and that it is necessary to create a united society.
“National pride is not a slogan shouted on national days…for national pride to be meaningful, we have to live it every day. National pride is about us keeping our environment clean, presenting the cleanest Guyana, the safest Guyana, the most beautiful Guyana,” he added.
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