By Richard Bhainie

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will be channelling funds from its $5.8 billion budget this year towards the expansion of diplomatic representations and the establishment of a national public relations committee.

This was disclosed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, during his Budget Debate presentation to the National Assembly, at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara on Thursday.

Todd explained that monies would be allocated for a national public relations committee to educate persons, far and wide, and of all age groups, on border-related and territorial issues.

He noted that the matter was already raised in the foreign relations sub-committee where it was agreed that a massive public relations campaign is much-needed to ensure every citizen is au fait and on the same level in relation to territorial matters.

“To bring everyone on board to speak with one message to be able to ensure that each and every one understands the value of maintaining and protecting our territorial integrity so we are not going to spare any monies in this effort,” Todd said.

In that regards Todd noted that funds will also be committed to regular stakeholder meetings, and he referenced a recent engagement with the media on the Venezuela border controversy.

“We felt it was necessary for the media to understand context, history and the process that we’re embarking on so that we all can have a national approach treating to this particular undertaking,” he said.

In relation to borders, resources will also be committed to the Guyana-Suriname border commission, which is vital in maintaining and strengthening Guyana’s relation with Suriname, Todd explained.

Pertaining to the expansion of diplomatic representations, the Government is exploring the option of establishing a mission in Ghana, an initiative which was started under the previous administration.

The Government is now looking at the financial model and the benefits that can be derived from having a mission on the continent, Todd explained.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also highlighted that the recently established embassy in Kuwait has seen significant benefits to Guyana and the Government will be expanding to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“There’s a lot of private capital in that region; it could help us in capital injection, in terms of Foreign Direct Investment, as well as Public Private Partnerships, and we’re looking to tap into that region through our foreign relations which will drive that process for economic cooperation and integration,” he said.

Not only will resources be invested in the setting up of new missions, but will also be allocated to traditional partners. Of priority is regional and hemispheric integration, Todd noted.

“Resources will be committed to strengthening our integration efforts beginning with The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). We’re going to establish a CSME unit headed by an ambassador,” he said.

Of the $5.8 billion allocated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, $1.8 billion is allocated to the ministry’s headquarters here in Georgetown, $3.9 billion to overseas missions and $55.5 million to the Foreign Trade Department.

Minister Todd noted that the budgetary allocation “is carefully crafted and aligned to give momentum to Guyana’s foreign policy agenda”.