As Guyana reflects on the successful conduct of its recent elections, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has publicly commended the men and women of the Joint Services for their discipline, dedication, and vital role in safeguarding peace and stability throughout the country. The President delivered his remarks during the Operation Plexus After-Action Review, a ceremony he described as “a modest expression of our appreciation for your service.”
According to President Ali, the event was intended to express the nation’s gratitude to those who stood watch on Election Day and in the tense days leading up to and following it.
While highlighting the vital importance of their work, President Ali reminded the gathering that “elections are the lifeblood of democracy. When citizens can exercise their rights to vote freely, without fear or intimidation, a nation demonstrates the depth of its democratic maturity.”
The President further added that the calm and orderly environment Guyana experienced during its most recent elections was not by chance but by design. “The peaceful and orderly conduct of our most recent elections was not an accident of circumstance. It was a direct result of planning, vigilance, discipline, and the efforts of the joint services,” he stressed.
Recognising leadership and sacrifice
Meanwhile, President Ali paid special tribute to both the leadership of the joint services and the ranks on the ground.
According to him, senior officers provided clear vision and coordination, and the men and women under their command carried out duties with quiet diligence, ensuring safety and order across all ten administrative regions.
“On Election Day, you stood watch. In the days after, when tensions could have easily tipped into disorder, you held the line, calm, silent, but decisive in your actions,” President Ali said, noting that their actions allowed the people’s will to be expressed without disruption. He added that history would record their role in ensuring democracy remained secure.
“For this, we thank you. For this, we honour you. For this, history will remember you,” he declared.
Peace is the foundation of stability
Furthermore, the President went on to link the role of the joint services in protecting domestic peace with Guyana’s broader national security and sovereignty. He reminded the ranks in uniform that true peace is not just the absence of conflict but also the presence of order.
“When we strengthen peace and stability within our borders, we are also fortifying our stability to protect our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
President Ali also added that stability at home frees the joint services to focus on defending Guyana’s borders and addressing external threats.
The Head of State further emphasised that Guyana’s peaceful elections are also a powerful message to the world that the country is a stable and credible democracy. This, he noted, strengthens Guyana’s case for sovereignty in the face of territorial challenges.
Gratitude in words and deeds
Additionally, President Ali acknowledged that no ceremony could fully repay the sacrifices made by the joint services, and he pledged the government’s commitment to providing greater support for their welfare and resources.
He pointed out that many officers and ranks spent long hours, days, and weeks away from their families, working in tense conditions, so that citizens could exercise their right to vote in peace.
“The peace we enjoyed was not automatic; it was secure. The order we experienced was not natural; it was protected. The democracy we celebrated was not guaranteed; it was defended,” the President said.
Setting an example for the world
Finally, President Ali noted that Guyana has set an example of peaceful democratic practice at a time when elections in other parts of the world often end in chaos and disorder.
According to him, this achievement demonstrated Guyana’s growth as a democracy and showed the value of professionalism within its security forces.
“Around the world, you have seen how elections can descend into violence; how trust in institutions can be eroded by disorder. How democracy can be weakened by chaos, but in Guyana, we showed another path,” the President stated.
The President also concluded by describing peace as “priceless”, stability as “strength”, and democracy as “dignity”, before praising the joint services as guardians of all three.
“On behalf of the Government and the people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, I say thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your example,” President Ali said.
