Phillips, Jagdeo sworn in – Stabroek News
Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Bharrat Jagdeo were yesterday afternoon sworn in as Prime Minister and Vice President of Guyana res-pectively, the positions they held in the previous administration, marking the first appointments under the new Irfaan Ali administration following the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections.
The ceremony, held at State House, came one day after President Irfaan Ali himself took the oath of office for a second term as Head of State.
In his remarks, President Ali described the appointments as a demonstration of confidence in leadership that has been tried and tested. “These appointments are evidence of placing the reins of our nation’s development in the most trusted hands,” he said.
Speaking on the return of Phillips as Prime Minister, Ali noted that his years of service in the Guyana Defence Force and his stewardship in government between 2020 and 2025 had shown him to be a leader of discipline and loyalty. “Brigadier Phillips brings to this renewed appointment a wealth of experience. He brings inte-grity, a character forged in the fires of duty, and decades of selfless service to the people of Guyana,” the President said.
Ali stressed that Phillips’ earlier tenure as Prime Minister had proven his ability to handle wide responsibilities with “efficiency and masterful command” and said the country could again depend on his steady leadership.
Meanwhile, turning to Jagdeo, the President said his return to the post of Vice President reflected the depth of expertise needed to guide Guyana through a new period of growth. “It is therefore with equal honour that I am pleased to appoint Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo as the Vice President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,” Ali declared.
He praised Jagdeo’s career in public life, highlighting his years as Minister of Finance, his twelve years as President, and his most recent service as Vice President during the first Ali administration. “His grasp for complex issues, his foresight in policymaking, and his profound understanding of both local dynamics and global economics are nothing short of extraordinary,” Ali said.
The President described both appointees as “household names, not for fame, but for deed, not for words, but for action and service.” He added that their leadership reflects the “unity of purpose and diversity of skills”, his government intends to bring to the next five years of governance.
“With Brigadier Phillips as our Prime Minister, and Dr. Jagdeo as our Vice President, the people of Guyana have not just strength in government, but a guided ship, a team dedicated to protecting our gains and propelling us to even greater heights,” Ali stated.
The Head of State is expected to announce the full cabinet in the coming days.
