Ambassador Theriot: US will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Guyana

The United States continues to fully support Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and is urging investors not to be deterred by Venezuela’s sabre-rattling, US Ambassador Nicole Theriot said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the 33rd Annual General Meeting of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Theriot made clear that the US remains Guyana’s strongest economic partner and will not waver in its support.

“Maduro’s rhetoric is inflammatory and unacceptable,” she said, referring to recent actions and statements by the Venezuelan government regarding the Essequibo region. “But at the end of the day, it is just bluster aimed at shoring up domestic support. It should not affect Guyana’s investment climate or readiness to do business.”

The Ambassador said this is the message she and her team consistently deliver to American firms exploring business opportunities in Guyana. “That is exactly what I and Daniel and our entire team tell every US investor that comes to Guyana or that is interested in doing business here,” she affirmed.

“No amount of bluster or sabre-rattling changes the fact that the United States will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Guyana in support of its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Ambassador Theriot emphasised.

The Ambassador also condemned Venezuela’s decision to proceed with what she described as “so-called elections” in the Essequibo, despite provisional measures by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). “We are extremely unhappy that they made that ill-advised decision to go ahead and move forward,” she said, noting that a “very strongly worded tweet” from the U.S. State Department would soon make the US position unmistakably clear.

She described recent attacks by Venezuelan criminal group Sindicato on Guyanese Defence Force patrols in the Cuyuni area as “acts of aggression”, and said, “The United States stands ready to support the GDF in its effort to eradicate this activity along Guyana’s frontier and to ensure the safety and security of Guyana’s people.”

Theriot also praised the PSC for its role in national development and the growing U.S.-Guyana economic relationship, calling the partnership “rooted in shared democratic values, mutual respect and a common vision for a secure, prosperous and democratic Guyana.”

She pointed out that the US remains Guyana’s largest trade and investment partner, with thousands of American firms engaged locally across sectors ranging from energy and agriculture to education and security.

“The PSC plays such a pivotal role in strengthening the economic ties between the United States and Guyana,” she said, adding that the private sector body helps to “promote a transparent predictable regulatory environment that welcomes US and international investment.”

The envoy also highlighted the importance of stable governance for economic growth, referencing past tensions surrounding elections. “We learned valuable lessons that we will apply this year to help ensure elections are free and fair and the people of Guyana can trust the electoral process,” she said.