Dear Editor,
Please permit me space in your newspaper, to congratulate His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, who received the prestigious Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley, as reported in the Stabroek News of 4 April, 2025. This prestigious Award conferred unto President Ali during the Berkeley Innovation Forum 2025, further reinforces President Ali’s growing stature as an outstanding leader in championing causes not only for his country but also for the Region and further afield.
Amongst the previous recipient of this award are high profile leaders in business such as Warren Buffet, Paul Jacobs, John Chambers, Michael Dell, and political leaders such as Pranab Mukerjee, Barack Obama, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The Stabroek News report states that President Ali’s contribution to the Global Dialogue on Environmental Conservation and Sustainability through pioneering initiatives such as a marketing mechanism for carbon trading, was noted. It is no secret that the Ali Presidency is characterized by pursuit of an aggressive campaign for Guyana’s economic development, buoyed by a sustainable approach to exploit Guyana’s natural resources while maintaining Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, as the pioneering frame work.
To this end there has been serious and significant measures taken to wean away from the heavy dependence on fossil fuel for Guyana’s energy generation. The commissioning of the Mini Hydro Plant in Moco Region 9 by Prime Minister Brig., (Rtd.) Mark Phillips and the plan to bring on stream a second Mini Hydro Plant at Kumu in Region 9, before the end of the second quarter of 202, is unrefuted proof. The continued establishment of Solar Farms in our hinterland areas including Haimacabra and Kaburi and plans to establish a wind farm in Leguan Island, I am sure has captured the attention of our regional neighbours and even further afield.
President Ali is most deserving of the Global Leadership Award for Innovation and all Guyanese where ever they reside must feel a sense of great pride to see one of its citizens internationally recognised and bestowed with such an award.
Yours sincerely,
Jerome Khan
