Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) met with Guyana President Irfaan Ali this week. As the Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Rep. Salazar met with President Ali to discuss shared security and economic priorities that are affecting Miami and the wider Caribbean region.
Salazar has introduced legislation that promotes prosperity and security in the Caribbean. Namely, she’s introduced the U.S.-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act. Salazar touts these pieces of legislation, arguing that they will ensure the safety of Guyana while also reducing the influence of Communist regimes like Venezuela and Cuba.
When Salazar introduced the former, she called the Caribbean “a part of Miami’s economy.” In introducing the legislation, Salazar detailed that the U.S. has a duty in continuing to “help our partners in the Caribbean invest in resilient infrastructure, develop a workforce for the future, fight gangs and criminal activity, and oppose the malign influence of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela in the region.”
In a statement, Salazar praised her meeting with the president, saying that “as the Representative for the city of Miami, the Gateway to the Americas, I am proud to welcome President Ali to the Capital of the United States.” “Guyana is experiencing explosive economic growth with its embrace of free markets,” she added, adding that her “hope is that the whole Caribbean will be able to follow their example.”
Guyana hosts the headquarters of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and it is a critical strategic partner of the United States.
As the Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Salazar has sought to prioritize economic growth and security around the hemisphere.
Last year, the Guyanese economy grew by 62%, and the economic is expected to grow by 38% this year.
