Another GUY$525 million (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) has been allocated in Guyana’s 2023 budget for the establishment of an embassy in neighboring Brazil.
The allocation comes just two months after Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd, confirmed that the government had scrapped the contract for the construction of the embassy building.
It’s reported that despite a flawed contract signed by the previous APNU+AFC administration, the People’s Progressive Party Civic government at the start of 2022 had re-committed to completing the construction of the US$4.3 million embassy in Brazil.
An ambitious timeline to complete the facility by July was not met.
Now, more money has been allocated but there is no indication of a new contract in place.
The project total is listed in the 2023 budget as GUY$978.9 million which will be fully financed by central government.
Prior to 2021, $36.2 million was allocated to the project with another $407.3 million allocated in 2021, and $10.4 million in 2022.
According to Todd, the government was forced to scrap the entire contract because of mounting inconsistencies.
A team from the ministry visited Brazil last year and during that visit, the contract was terminated.
Todd had promised then to revisit the entire process.
Previously, the foreign minister said the issues were directly related to the contract and the design submitted. He said the delay in completing the physical structure for the embassy has not hampered cooperation efforts between the two neighbors.
Guyana and Brazil are cooperating on several fronts with talks ongoing and agreements signed to support the regional efforts toward energy and food security.
There are standing bilateral treaties on civil and criminal matters, health, and business exchanges, particularly in oil and gas.
Five years have passed since the ground-breaking ceremony to mark the construction of a permanent building for the Guyana Embassy in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil.
The contract for construction was done through a partnership between a local firm and another construction firm in Brazil.
CMC/
