Less than $60M spent on overseas travel for President, VP from 2020

– trips ensured Guyana’s interests were pioneered, investments secured

In response to questions that were raised by the parliamentary Opposition, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance has revealed the expenses incurred during the official overseas trips of both President Dr Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.
In President Ali’s case, the airfare and out-of-pocket expenses cover the years 2020 to 2023, including trips to the United Nations General Assembly (2021 and 2022), Caribbean Community Heads of Government meetings, energy conferences in Trinidad and Tobago and investment forums in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The President’s airfare from 2020 to 2023 has so far totalled $32.1 million (or US$150,964). However, meals, out-of-pocket expenses and accommodation cost $3.8 million (or US$17,925. This means that total expenses for that period, about travel, totalled $35.9 million (or US$168,889).
Meanwhile, the Vice President’s travel expenses from 2021 to 2023 were reviewed, including trips to the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, to India, Ghana and the UAE for furthering bilateral relations and to the CERA Week energy conference in Houston, Texas. His airfare totalled $18.1 million (or US$85,274), while out-of-pocket expenses totalled $2.1 million (or US$10,015). In total, the Vice President’s expenses totalled $20.2 million.
The benefits derived from these trips were also stated, including “repairing the damage done between 2015-2020 to Guyana’s international credibility” and regaining Guyana’s leadership position on climate service issues, as well as promoting investment opportunities in Guyana and establishing new embassies in Qatar and the UAE.
As many as 50 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), agreements or joint statements were signed during these trips, aimed at ensuring international cooperation. Further, these trips were also aimed at garnering knowledge and experience from other countries on developing the oil and gas sector.
One crowning achievement of these trips, according to the Ministry, was also Guyana securing a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the year 2024-2025, with the single highest attainable votes.
The United Nations Charter establishes six main organs of the organisation, including the Security Council. It is given primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
Its functions and powers are: to maintain international peace and security by the principles and purposes of the United Nations; to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction; to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes, or the terms of settlement; to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments; to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression, and to recommend what action should be taken among others.
In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions, or even authorising the use of force, to maintain or restore international peace and security. Temporary members hold their seats on a rotating basis by geographic region. Guyana will serve a two-year term on the Council from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.
Guyana has over the years become a magnet for investments. Particular interest has been shown by international investors towards the oil and gas sector, which continues to grow amid Guyana’s reputation as the fastest-growing economy and is responsible for approximately US$700 million in revenue that is retained and spent within Guyana, helping to fuel economic growth.
However, significant attention has also been shown to other non-oil industries, including gold mining, logging, renewable energy and agriculture. Guyana fielded significant interest during the third Agri Investment Forum and Expo that was held in October of this year. The previous two editions were both held last year, one in Guyana and the other in Trinidad.