THE government has announced that it will soon appoint ambassadors to Venezuela and Brazil, and will shortly seek agreement from the respective nations for Guyana’s nominees to fill the diplomatic positions.

This was according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd, in a written response to questions posed by Opposition Member of Parliament, Amanza Walton-Desir, on the appointment of the respective envoys.

In the response to both appointments, Todd said: “The government has taken its time to review a number of potential candidates in order that a suitable nominee could be presented.”
Venezuela and Brazil are among a number of countries where Guyanese missions are without substantive heads, including India.

Guyana’s mission in Venezuela has been without an Ambassador since December, 2019, after the then envoy Cheryl Miles, was recalled under the previous A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government. Miles had been appointed to the position in 2015 and subsequently accredited in 2016.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s mission in Brazil has been without an Ambassador since April 2021, after the then Ambassador to Brazil, George Talbot, was reassigned as Guyana’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Talbot had served as the Ambassador to Brazil from March 2016.