Herstelling, East Bank Demerara – August 25, 2025 – With fewer than nine days before the General and Regional Elections, President Dr. Irfaan Ali is making an emotional appeal to Guyanese voters: safeguard the nation’s progress and prepare to stand firm against looming security threats.
On Saturday night, before a sea of supporters in Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, the President’s tone was both urgent and reassuring. He reminded citizens that Guyana’s fight is not just political but also deeply tied to its survival as a sovereign state.
“We Cannot Go Back”
“We cannot afford to turn the hands of the clock back,” Ali declared, his voice echoing across the crowd. “We must align ourselves with every force that is coming together to fight transnational criminal networks. These criminal networks can destabilise our region, our economy, and even work on behalf of rogue regimes.”
The crowd, many waving Guyana’s flag, cheered as the President underscored that sovereignty and development are inseparable. For many ordinary Guyanese, his words struck a chord, especially as fears of Venezuelan aggression linger.
A People Caught Between Fear and Hope
Sixty-two-year-old Randolph James, who stood among the supporters, said afterward, “We’ve come too far. Nobody wants to see Guyana dragged back into lawlessness. This is about our children’s future.”
Nearby, young mother Alana Singh clutched her son’s hand. She said she worries about “what could happen if Venezuela or these cartels really come closer.” But she also added, “Hearing the President talk about alliances gives me hope that we’re not alone.”
The Shadow of Venezuela
Ali’s warning comes as Guyana faces heightened tension with Venezuela. The government recently issued a statement naming Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a destabilising force in the region. These networks, it warned, can overwhelm institutions, corrupt politics, and strip away human dignity.
The situation intensified when three U.S. warships were ordered to Venezuela’s coast, part of Washington’s crackdown on drug cartels. At the same time, the Trump administration doubled its bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of running a narco-state.
For Guyanese families, the geopolitical talk translates into everyday worry. “All we want is peace,” said Anita Ramnarine, a teacher. “But peace doesn’t come cheap. If our leaders don’t stand strong, we could lose everything.”
Regional Voices Rising
Trinidad and Tobago has already signaled that it will back Guyana if tensions escalate. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said her government fully supports U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and pledged that Trinidadian territory would be opened if Guyana needed defending against a Venezuelan attack.
The declaration brought a mixture of relief and unease. “It’s good to know our neighbours will stand with us,” said Rajiv Persaud, a shopkeeper from Demerara. “But if the Americans and Venezuelans clash, we’re right in the middle.”
A Nation at a Crossroads
As the election countdown continues, Ali is framing the vote not only as a political decision but as a national test of resilience. His call is for unity, alliances, and vigilance.
For many, it is a reminder that Guyana’s journey is bigger than one election cycle. “We are writing history right now,” James reflected as he left the rally. “The question is: are we writing it forward, or backward?”
