Tag: swearing in

Prime Minister, Vice President sworn in

Posted on by Kayleigh Carter

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo were sworn in on Monday, underscoring President Irfaan Ali’s decision to retain his most senior political lieutenants as the PPP/C begins a new term in office.

The appointments come just a day after President Ali himself took the oath of office, following the party’s victory in the September 1 General and Regional Elections.

By returning both Phillips, a career military officer turned politician, and Jagdeo, a former president and the PPP’s chief strategist, Ali has signalled a preference for continuity at the top of government as he prepares to announce the rest of his Cabinet.

“These appointments are evidence of placing the reins of our nation’s development in the most trusted hands,” the President said during the ceremony. He praised Phillips’ “decades of demonstrated national service” and described Jagdeo as a “visionary” whose counsel has been indispensable.

Ali is expected to announce further ministerial appointments in the coming days, setting the tone for his administration’s second consecutive term.

President Ali pledges to convert action into transformation 

Posted on by Kayleigh Carter

President Dr. Irfaan Ali was sworn in for a second term on Sunday, pledging to “convert ambition into action and action into transformation” as his government pursues oil expansion, economic diversification, and major infrastructure projects.

Dr. Ali, re-elected in the September 1 General and Regional Elections, told an august gathering at State House: “We will not speak in half-measures, and we will not hesitate to deliver.”

He said the oil and gas sector would continue to grow, expanding production and revenue for our people, but added: “We will press forward with new exploration under a stronger Production Sharing Agreement, ensuring that the benefits are greater, the gains are wider, and the wealth is truly for the people.”

Ali stressed that Guyana is not a one-sector nation, pledging to strengthen mining, agriculture, fisheries, and forestry while building new growth poles that drive the economy of tomorrow.

These include world-class tourism, a thriving blue economy, competitive manufacturing, cutting-edge information and communications technology, and dynamic knowledge-based industries.

To deepen unity, Ali promised to operationalise the One Guyana Commission “with particular emphasis on public infrastructure, cultural development and national integration.” He also vowed to modernise procurement with “a tiered system to promote wider participation and ensure accountability and transparency,” while accelerating justice sector reform.

He highlighted the role of business in development: “Success will come when businesses pursue growth while ensuring fairness to their workers, upholding social responsibility, and contributing to the broader well-being of our society.”

Dr. Ali announced that within six weeks, planning will begin for a new Berbice River Bridge, a Corentyne River crossing with Suriname, a second gas-to-energy plant in Region Six, an Economic Zone in Berbice, a deep-water harbour, the expansion of the Demerara Harbour, a national digital backbone, and fertiliser and natural gas plants. “The next six weeks will see these projects advancing on track,” he said.

The president affirmed that development must benefit citizens directly. “That is why a priority of my administration is to put more money in your pockets. We will reduce taxes, raise disposable incomes, and continue direct cash grants. We will build prosperity in every family and home.

He also pledged to push home ownership and financial inclusion: “Over the next five years, we will bring more families closer to the dream of home ownership—because owning your own home is not a luxury; it is a foundation of dignity and security. We will strengthen financial inclusion so that every small entrepreneur—whether in farming, commerce, or innovation—has the access and support to start, grow, and thrive.”