The Guyanese embassy in Brazil is expected to be completed during the first half of 2022, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd.
This disclosure was made on Monday to the Committee of Supply during the consideration of estimates for the 2022 national budget which caters for the completion of the project. As the minister was on the floor, Opposition Member of Parliament, Dr Karen Cummings enquired about the provision of some $24 million under capital expenditures.
Dr Cummings noted that the project profile speaks to the completion of the building along with the provision of a gate for another mission in another country. While the MP noted that the programme was a “rollover” programme, she inquired as to what percentage of the building has been completed.
To this end she indicated that the entire project is listed at some $957 million and up to last year approximately $407 million had been spent. Todd then told the committee that 53 per cent of the building has been completed thus far and that it is estimated that the entire project would be done by the end of the first half of 2022.
Meanwhile as the House examined the various allocations, Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amanza Walton-Desir asked the minister about the approximate $288 million increase budgeted under the line item – Rental of Buildings.
Todd responded that the increase caters for the establishment of new missions in Doha, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Also catered for in the increase, he said, was the rental of residences for the replacement of ambassadors and staff posted to various missions.
In last year’s budget, a sum of $60 million was allocated for the establishment of embassies in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar as a result of Guyana establishing diplomatic ties with the two countries. Todd at that time noted that the government has its focus on expanding diplomatic missions in the Middle East.
