President Dr Irfaan Ali today hailed members of the Joint Services for their discipline, vigilance, and professionalism during the 2025 General and Regional Elections, declaring that their service “made the people’s choice possible” and ensured that “democracy was visible”.
He made the remarks at the Operation PLEXUS After Action Review (ARR), where officers across the Joint Services were formally recognised for their role in maintaining peace, law and order during the September 1 polls.
The ceremony included the conferral of the Joint Services Medal Class E on members of the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service, and Guyana Prison Service.
The citation for the medals was signed by Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman of the Joint Services Coordinating Council, Brigadier Omar Khan.
Meanwhile, in his address, the Head of State emphasised that the peace that prevailed during the elections period was as a direct result of strategic planning and efforts of the Joint Services and other stakeholders.
“In this regard, I wish to extend my personal gratitude…your foresight, your coordination and your ability to act as one united force ensured that all contingencies were anticipated and addressed,” the president said.
Further, he emphasised the importance of the peacefulness at the polls, noting that it’s about ensuring Guyana presents itself to the world as a stable, credible and mature democracy.
“It is therefore imperative that the world see us as a people, united, capable of conducting our affairs with dignity and order. When our elections are peaceful, when our democracy is secure, our case for sovereignty is strengthened. The stronger our peace, the firmer our borders, the deeper our unity, the higher our defence,” he expressed.
“The work you did on Elections Day was not only about that day. It was about ensuring that Guyana presents itself to the world as a stable, credible, and mature democracy,” he added.
According to President Ali, “let us not underestimate the weight of what was achieved. Around the world, we’ve 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 part…”
“We showed that elections can be orderly, that transitions can be peaceful, and democracy can be both vibrant and stable. This was our collective achievement as a people, [and] it was secured by the effort of the Joint Services,” he further emphasised.
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