President Dr Irfaan Ali was on Monday conferred with the State of Roraima’s highest award, the Order of Merit Forte São Joaquim (Medalha Forte São Joaquim) in Boa Vista, Brazil. The conferment, at the highest degree of the Grand Cross, took place at the Augusto Cardoso Noble Hall at the Senator Hélio Campos Palace. The Order was presented to the Head of State by Governor Antonio Denarium in recognition of the strengthening economic ties between the two countries. In his acceptance speech, the President affirmed that Guyana and the Federative Republic of Brazil will continue to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly through Roraima, which borders the Rupununi region. President Ali noted that the complementary development trajectories of Guyana and Roraima present strong opportunities to expand trade and investment, especially in key areas such as agriculture, transportation and logistics, energy collaboration and the easier flow of goods, services and people across borders.
He further pointed to Brazil’s strategic importance in strengthening links between South America and the Caribbean, characterising the country as a natural ally for Guyana due to its economic strength, technical expertise and leadership within the region. Against a backdrop of increasing global protectionism, President Ali emphasised that deeper South–South partnerships are critical to safeguarding the interests of developing nations in the international trading system. Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud and several members of the business community accompanied the President. In a citation, Governor Antonio Denarium of the State of Roraima, Federative Republic of Brazil, on the award inscribed “in recognition of the exceptional merits and significant services rendered to the State of Roraima, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, was invited, in his capacity as Grand Master of the Order of Merit Forte São Joaquim, to receive the highest distinction granted by the Government of Roraima, in honour of the growing economic relations between the two nations.”
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