Flanked by First Lady Arya Ali and their son Zayd, Irfaan Ali was sworn in on Sunday as Guyana’s ninth President at a posh ceremony at State House, where Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips and his family joined regional dignitaries for an inauguration complete with brunch and a cultural showcase.
In his first address after securing re-election in the 2025 polls, Ali stated, “I stand before you this day, both humble and exalted by the solemn honor you have once more entrusted to me to serve as your President,” before setting out a five-year agenda anchored in oil and gas expansion, sustainability, and rapid infrastructure development.
He was clear that petroleum will remain the engine of Guyana’s transformation. “Yes, our oil and gas sector will continue to grow, expanding production and revenue for our people.” He also promised stronger terms for future projects. “We’ll press forward with new exploration on the stronger production sharing agreement, ensuring that the benefits are greater, the gains are vital, and the wealth is truly for the people.”
He stated that oil must fund broader progress. “We are not a one-sector nation. We are building a diversified economy that will generate jobs, raise income and secure prosperity,” he said, pledging to strengthen traditional industries like mining, agriculture, fisheries and forestry, while driving growth in “world-class tourism, competitive manufacturing, cutting-edge ICT and dynamic knowledge-based industries”.
Ali balanced the oil push with firm commitments to climate stewardship. “Managing the forestry sector in a manner that maintains our environmental credentials will be key in solidifying our position as global leaders in the fight against climate change,” he said, calling Guyana “a small nation rising to shape the future of its region and the world”.
He used the moment to unveil an immediate six-week program of sweeping projects. These include a new Berbice River Bridge, a Corentyne River crossing linking Suriname, a second gas-to-shore plant in Region Six, the creation of an economic zone in Berbice, a deepwater harbour and expansion of the Demerara Harbour and fertilizer and natural gas plants designed to “make Guyana an industrial powerhouse in the region”. Ali said the timeline underscores his philosophy that “development is meaningless if it does not touch people’s lives”.
He outlined measures aimed directly at households: reduced taxes, increased disposable income, continued cash grants, halved electricity costs, and no new taxes. “We will bring more families closer to their dream of home ownership, because owning your own home is not a luxury, it’s a foundation of dignity and security,” he said. His plans span mobile health visits and telemedicine for the elderly, removal of taxes on hygiene products for women, world-class sports facilities for youth, and a fight against poverty that he described as a “national crusade”.
Ali also promised a more efficient public service, strengthened anti-corruption efforts, and modernized procurement. “Every official will be required to account for their personal assets, and any who will not do so will face the full force of the law,” he warned. He affirmed the watchdog role of the media, stating that government ministries would ensure timely access to information.
Reflecting on his mandate, Ali struck a unifying note. “Those who did not support, know this, I am your President. Your hopes and worries belong at the center of our work,” he said.
As he looked ahead to what he called “the most consequential five years in our nation’s history”, he vowed that Guyana’s resource wealth would be measured not just by barrels of oil, but by rising living standards.
“Guyana must never again be a country rich in resources but poor in living standards,” Ali said to applause, promising to turn what he called ambition into action.
