‘The Guyana we are building belongs to all of us’ – President Ali updates Guyanese diaspora in New York

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Tuesday evening assured members of the Guyanese diaspora in New York that the transformation taking place in Guyana is real, people-centred, and inclusive, urging them to remain engaged and play their part in the country’s future.

Dr Ali and First Lady Arya Ali attended a meet-and-greet reception with nationals living in the United States as part of activities surrounding the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Addressing a packed hall, the President reflected on the “new spirit” of Guyana’s development. He said the country is experiencing “a people-centred transformation built on service, glued together by love, and forward-looking through the eyes of unity.”

“The story of division, hate, and race has been defeated. The object of the future is unity—One Guyana—in which every religious belief will grow, in which every Guyanese will shine,” Dr Ali said to applause.

The President praised the diaspora for keeping Guyana alive in their hearts while building lives abroad, but stressed that their contributions remain essential to national progress. He assured that his government is creating avenues for overseas Guyanese to invest, mentor, share expertise, or simply return home.

“I want you to understand that while it is good to be critical, we also have a responsibility to lift our country, to promote it, and to build it together,” Dr Ali urged.

He promised new investment opportunities tailored for the diaspora and reiterated that the Diaspora Unit will be modernised to better connect them to opportunities at home.

Dr Ali emphasised that Guyana has shifted from a country that people once fled to one that now attracts global attention. He recalled a recent encounter on his flight to New York, where the pilot expressed pride in Guyana’s unfolding transformation.

“The greatest injustice we can do to our country is to be negative and selfish about the progress. This is development happening in real time. It is visible, it is tangible, and it is undeniable,” he said.

The President also shared that during his interactions abroad, even former U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged him as being from “the great country Guyana,” underscoring the country’s rising profile.

Dr Ali closed with a call for inclusivity and unity, stressing that development must lift women, youth, and the elderly. He highlighted measures such as raising pensions, expanding women’s opportunities, free education, and targeted support for Indigenous communities.

“This is not about creating a handout culture, but about empowerment. Our aim is simple: the net worth of every citizen must grow,” he said.

He assured the diaspora that Guyana’s transformation is designed for them too—whether they choose to return permanently, invest, or simply remain connected.

“The Guyana we are building belongs to all of us—those who stayed, those who returned, and those who live abroad but never stopped caring. Together, we will build a strong, united One Guyana,” the President declared.