Mark Phillips is boss as Ali departs for Suriname

Prime Minister Mark Phillips is performing the duties of president. This is as President Irfaan Ali is on a four day official visit to neighbouring Suriname for the next two days.

In a brief comment to Big Smith News Watch, Prime Minister Phillips confirmed that he will be performing the duties of head of state, “in keeping with protocol, as Prime Minister, I saw the President off and after he would have left the jurisdiction, I was sworn in to act as President by Madame Chancellor,” Phillips explained. This was done in the presence of Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Brigadier Godfrey Bess and Commissioner of Police (Ag) Nigel Hoppie.

President Ali is expected to engage President Chandrikapersad Santokhi on several areas of cooperation, a release from the Officer of the President said on Monday. These include the finalisation of agreements to “advance the proposal for the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge,” and the establishment of a framework for enhancing dialogue between the two neighbours.

President Ali’s visit comes after President Santokhi visited Guyana in August this year.