–Minister Todd defends Budget 2024; says ministry’s allocation will enhance diplomacy, ensure prosperity

IN defence of his ministry’s $8.3 billion allocation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, said that the sum will further advance Guyana’s interests globally and ensure tangible benefits for its citizens.

During the first day of the 2024 National Budget Debates, Minister Todd stood before the house, where he faced opposition heckling from A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) members of parliament.

At the core of Minister Todd’s defence was the significance of international engagements led by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali.

Todd stressed that every international visit by President Ali is geared towards bringing concrete benefits to the people of Guyana.

With an unwavering commitment to bilateral ties, Todd highlighted successful visits to India, the United Kingdom, China, Qatar, and Washington D.C., resulting in over 40 memoranda of understanding (MOU), agreements, and roadmaps.

“What I want the people of Guyana to know, and the people to understand clearly is that every time the President leaves Guyana, we are bringing benefits to the people, and that is how we do it,” he said.

The minister underscored the rewards of the government’s representation on the multilateral, international, and regional levels.

Through strategic diplomacy, he said that Guyana has not only secured numerous agreements but has also gained recognition globally.

Minister Todd told the house that Guyana has obtained more than 44 accreditations across the world, due to its active participation in political dialogues, economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.

“When you think about the rewards, in terms of our representation, in the multilateral, international and regional levels, we have been ensuring that we put the people of this country first,” Todd said.

Amidst interruptions from the opposition, Todd proudly spoke about the inclusive approach the government maintains, especially concerning the border controversy case with Venezuela which is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Guyana seeks to obtain a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the boundary between the two countries, remains valid and binding.

Todd said that this case and even the “Argyle declaration” are a testament to this inclusivity, which involves key figures from different political backgrounds, such as Carl Greenidge, Dr. Richard Van West-Charles, and Amanza Walton-Desir.

Todd pointed out that this inclusivity is a display of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s (PPP/C)’s commitment to “bipartisanship” and the overall maturity of the government.

“Our representation with regards to the case before the ICJ is very inclusive, it remains intact, and we are proud to display that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic is a truly inclusive government, a bipartisan arrangement that speaks to our maturity and our commitment to the people of this country,” he said to loud applause from his fellow government MPs.

Minister Todd delved into the programmes at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, particularly focusing on the development of the foreign policy agenda.

He proudly announced that 93 per cent of Foreign Service officers have undergone training, which aligns with the government’s commitment to enhancing diplomatic capabilities.

Additionally, Todd reiterated the importance of staying the course with the Argyle Declaration, particularly in light of the ICJ case.

“We have three programmes at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The first speaks to the development of our foreign policy agenda. We trained 93 per cent of our Foreign Service officers in the 89 programmes so far, and we want to continue that trend for this year,” he said.

Addressing the misconception that the budget is merely about numbers, Minister Todd highlighted its true essence—progress, commitment to service, and the fulfilment of promises made by the PPP/C government.

Todd highlighted the budget’s role in delivering wealth and prosperity to the people of Guyana while ensuring that their rights, privileges, and freedoms are respected.

“This budget is not only about numbers. It is about progress. It is about commitment to service. It is about delivering on the promises that we [PPP/C] made,” he said.

He said the $1.146 trillion allocation showcases the government’s commitment to transformation and living up to the 2024 National Budget theme, ‘Staying the course, prosperity for all.’

The minister posited that the allocations and measures outlined in his ministry’s budget will help protect Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.