APNU+AFC parliamentarian Amanza Walton-Desir has moved to the National Assembly to get answers from Foreign Minister Hugh Todd on the government’s recent hiring of United States (US) lobbying firm Cormac Group, including about the criteria used for its selection and whether there will be an overlap between its activities and the work of the country’s foreign service personnel in Washington D.C.
On December 28, 2020, an agreement was signed by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Elizabeth Harper and James Link of the Cormac Group. According to a filing with the US Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the contract, valid for a period of six months at a cost of US$25,000 per a month, is for “government relations and lobbying services” and is “anticipated to include outreach to US congressional members and staff, executive branch officials, and relevant private sector organizations.”
According to documents filed with the Justice Department and which were seen by this newspaper, the team has committed to working towards engaging US policymakers to ensure a close working relationship with the Government of Guyana.
In a statement posted on her Facebook page on Friday, Walton-Desir said that she had submitted questions for Todd to the Clerk of the National Assembly for written reply. In addition to the criteria used for the selection of the firm, she has asked that Todd map the various foreign policy scenarios that informed the choice of the firm, indicate the procurement process used to hire it, including whether other firms/ groups were considered, and what gave the Cormac Group the competitive advantage that led to its retention.
Walton-Desir has also asked that Todd indicate the possible extent of overlap with the functions of foreign service personnel, particularly those in Washington D.C “Can the Minister state whether our Mission in Washington D.C is equipped to adequately represent Guyana’s interests? If it so, why did the Government deem it necessary to hire Cormac Group LLC? If not, what are the actions being taken to equip the Washington Mission with the required resources?” she asks.
While noting that the terms of the contract indicate that representation is being made on behalf of Guyana, Walton-Desir also asked Todd to identify the reporting mechanism that has been established to inform the citizenry of the progress made with the tasks assigned as well as if mechanisms would be put in place to keep the opposition parties in the National Assembly engaged in the process with the firm.
The opposition member has also asked if Todd could undertake to update the Foreign Relations Sector Committee on a quarterly basis of the progress made by the firm.
Otto Reich Associates has been named a joint venture firm with the Cormac Group. Registered on the account are Cormac Group partner James Link and consultants Otto Reich and Jose Cardenas.
A report published on the Foreign Lobby website noted that the two firms partnered last year to lobby for the International Centre for Democracy, a New York outfit close to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) during its elections campaign.
