Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd has told the National Assembly that the Government is actively advancing Guyana’s position on the world stage through the “prudent management” of the economy, infrastructural development, and most importantly investment in the people of the country. 

As he stood in defence of the $1.1 trillion Budget proposed by the Government, Minister Todd told the National Assembly that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has been prudently managing the country’s economy since 1992.

“When we took office in 1992, we were one of the poorest economies in this region, second to Haiti. Now, we are admired by the rest of the world with the leadership that we provided between 1992 and 2015, and since we took office in 2020,” Minister Todd said.

Todd said even as the country’s economy progresses, the Government is actively strengthening and consolidating Guyana’s bilateral ties with neighbouring countries and other friendly nations. He said focus is also being placed on multilateralism as the country advances its trade and economic interest. 

“Mr Speaker, in an effort to strengthen and consolidate our bilateral ties with our neighbours and friendly countries, as well as multilateral organisations, we are working on preserving our sovereignty and territorial integrity to promote Guyana’s trade and economic interest, and to enhance the image and presence of our country and people on the world stage,” he explained. 

According to the Foreign Minister, every regional and international visit undertaken by President Irfaan Ali has been to the benefit of the people of Guyana and in keeping with the country’s foreign policy agenda to position Guyana as a global leader in the areas of food security, energy security and climate change. 

“The visits of His Excellency the President  representing Guyana and advancing our foreign policy, we have had more than 40 MoUs, agreements, road maps all across the world, from Ghana to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, Saudia Arabia, Rwanda, Pakistan, Tajikistan…When you think about the rewards in terms of our representation in the multinational, international, and regional levels, we have been ensuring that we put the people of this country first,” Minister Todd told the National Assembly. 

Additionally, he said with investments in infrastructural projects such as the construction of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, and the new Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge, the Government is enhancing the country’s connectivity to Brazil and the wider world.  

“And that is very important Mr Speaker, because if we are going to connect Guiana Sheild, and if we going to be able to position Guyana, we have to be able to build out our infrastructure, we have to be able to drive efficiency, that’s reduced cost right there, that’s making our country more competitive and we have to be competitive to be able to advance our foreign policy agenda,” he reasoned. 

Minister Todd, during the course of his presentation also spoke extensively about the investments being made in the Education, Health, Agriculture and Social Services Sectors, which he said, are in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals. 

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