Guyana’s President Ali hails Suriname’s Santokhi as “brother” following his death

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has described the late Chandrikapersad Santokhi as a “friend” and a “brother forged not by blood but by conviction,” following Santokhi’s death on Monday.

“The sun sets now on a life well lived. But for those of us who were privileged to walk alongside him, the light of his example, his friendship, and his brotherhood will not fade. It will remain, a quiet glow in the memory, a gentle warmth in the heart,” Ali said in a statement.

Santokhi, 67, passed away at the Academic Hospital in Suriname’s capital after falling ill at home. He served as president from 2020 to 2025 and previously held the position of Minister of Justice and Police from 2005 to 2010. The cause of his illness has not yet been disclosed.

Ali paid tribute to Santokhi as a “voice of wisdom [that] has fallen silent,” extending condolences to his family.

“Former President Santokhi was a brother forged not by blood but by conviction, not by birth but by the shared calling of service. During his tenure as President, we walked a path together—leaders who understood that the destiny of our nations is woven from the same cloth,” Ali said.

He added that their friendship extended beyond official engagements. “We were brothers in regionalism, standing shoulder to shoulder in the councils of CARICOM, labouring in the vineyards of unity when the harvest seemed distant and the work was hard. We were friends in the advancement of our shared global interests, raising our voices together on matters of principle.”

Ali highlighted Santokhi’s role in strengthening relations between Guyana and Suriname. “Under his steady guidance, the relationship between Guyana and Suriname blossomed. He understood, as I do, that the river which divides us also connects us, that our histories are intertwined, and that the prosperity of one cannot be separated from the prosperity of the other.”

“Guyana has lost a friend, one who gave of himself freely and without pretence. I have lost a friend, someone whose presence in this world made the burdens of leadership lighter and the triumphs sweeter,” Ali said, praising Santokhi’s dedication and leadership.

Ali concluded by offering condolences to Santokhi’s family: “May his memory be a blessing that sustains you in the days ahead. To his family, I extend my most heartfelt condolences. May you find solace in the legacy he leaves behind. And may the love that surrounded him in life be a comfort to you in this hour of loss.”