Government on Thursday tabled in the National Assembly the overseas expenses associated with the travels of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his delegation from October 2015 to July 2017, something the Parliamentary Opposition had requested.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo
It has been revealed that these travels have cost the treasury almost $20 million.
In a written response to Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira’s question, the Government said that some US$39,604, including G$11.3 million were spent during that specific period, and gave a breakdown of all the conferences, cultural events and diaspora engagements the Prime Minister attended.
The Government was quick to defend the cost of the Nagamootoo’s travel, stating that the Prime Minister had made it a matter of principle to participate in overseas events for which air fares and accommodation are provided partially or fully by the sponsors to whom he has committed.
However, while providing a breakdown of the Prime Minister’s trip to Argentina for President Maurico Macron’s Inauguration, the Government admitted that the return fares for that trip were too costly, and an inquiry was requested as well as for bookings of cheaper (alternative) flights in the future.
The Government has paid all expenses associated with the Prime Minister’s attendance at that ceremony, held in December, 2015, and that has amounted to US$4,000 plus G$4,087,230. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Audrey Waddell, from December 9th to 12th, 2015.
The statement also revealed that the Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife, Sita Nagamootoo, six times during his overseas travels between January, 2016 and May, 2017. Although airfare and hotel accommodation had been sponsored in some cases, the Government paid all miscellaneous costs, out-of-pocket expenses and the value of meals. In some cases, contingency allowances were also provided.
Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had asked what the actual benefits were that Guyana had gained from those overseas trips. She had asked for the costs associated with each overseas trip, and the size of the delegations; and that the names of members, including spouses, be made public.
Government, in response, defended the Prime Minister and gave reasons for each of the trips. Government was keen to note that the October 2015 Mexico travel had several great benefits; and said most of the other trips, which included Nagamootoo’s attendance at the funerals of the late Trinidadian Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Cuban President Fidel Castro, are self-explanatory.
