President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali was officially presented with the highest civilian honour of the Brazilian state of Roraima on Monday during a ceremony in Boa Vista. The distinction, known as the Order of Merit Forte São Joaquim, was conferred at the level of Grand Cross at the Augusto Cardoso Noble Hall within the Senator Hélio Campos Palace.
Governor Antonio Denarium presented the prestigious award to President Ali in recognition of his leadership in deepening economic cooperation and strengthening ties between Guyana and Brazil, particularly through the border state of Roraima.
In his remarks, President Ali reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between Guyana and Brazil, highlighting Roraima’s pivotal role as a gateway to the Rupununi region. He underscored that the shared development paths of Guyana and Roraima create significant potential for increased trade, investment and joint ventures, particularly in agriculture, transport and logistics, energy cooperation, and the facilitation of cross-border movement of goods, services and people.
The Guyanese Head of State also noted Brazil’s critical role in enhancing connectivity between South America and the Caribbean, describing the country as a key partner because of its economic capacity, technical expertise and regional leadership. At a time when global trade is increasingly shaped by protectionist policies, President Ali stressed the importance of stronger South–South cooperation to protect and advance the interests of developing economies.
Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud, along with representatives from the business sector, joined President Ali for the occasion.
In the official citation accompanying the honour, Governor Denarium stated that the award was granted in recognition of President Ali’s outstanding contributions and meaningful service to the State of Roraima. The citation noted that, in his capacity as Grand Master of the Order of Merit Forte São Joaquim, President Ali was invited to receive the state’s highest distinction in celebration of the expanding economic relationship between Guyana and Brazil.