Minister Teixeira– Governance ministry will raise Guyana’s int’l profile in 2022

$278M was approved for the Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Ministry on Monday, during
the first day of consideration of the estimates for Budget 2022.
Minister Gail Teixeira said the ministry intends to raise its profile and promote Guyana as a
leader on issues that are at the top of the PPP/C Government’s agenda. “I’m very happy that our
ministry has been given new, additional resources. We’re a young and new ministry, and this has
to do with raising the profile of our ministry in terms of parliamentary affairs and governance,
which is a particularly important area for the Government of Guyana,” Teixeira said
She noted that this will include having Guyana represented at international conferences,
preparing reports to various international levels and treaties which have been ratified by the
Government of Guyana, and acquiring technical support in that regard. “It also includes capacity
building in terms of, not only of our staff, but looking at various agencies in order to deliver,
whether it is on treaty commitments, or whether it’s in terms of looking at our parliamentary
agenda,” the minister noted
Teixeira stressed that the government intends to participate in all regional and international
organisations dealing with good governance, pointing out that her ministry is the only one in the
Caribbean, and maybe in the hemisphere, to deal specifically with governance. She noted that
her ministry is happy to participate in forums with international organisations that recognise the
value of good governance. The Parliamentary Affairs and Governance minister said that her
ministry will, through its bilateral and multilateral agencies, act aggressively to promote strong
positions in the areas of climate change, oil and gas, and environment, in accordance with the
government’s agenda.  “We have also Mr. Speaker, the issue of Guyana’s regional integration in
terms of commitments it has made to do with food security and climate change. We will be part
of that process to ensure that Guyana is monitoring and making sure that Guyana is keeping to
commitments made and playing a vital role in integration. So, we’ll work closely with other
ministries, in particular with ministries such as the ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the
President, and agencies related,” she said.
Teixeira disclosed that the main intention is for Guyana to play a vital leadership role
internationally in governance, human rights and anti-corruption. She said that the Policy
Development and Administration aspect of the ministry’s work has been granted $156,942,000
in current expenditures and $10.2M in capital expenditures. She pointed out that it was also
granted a capital budget of $10.2M. In this budget are $4.2M for the construction of a new guard
hut at the ministry’s Queenstown, Georgetown office, and $6 million for furniture and
equipment.
Minister Teixeira said that under the Parliamentary Affairs aspect of the ministry’s work
programme, approval was also granted for current expenditures to the tune of $10.198M. She
added that as for the governance aspect of the ministry’s work, some $98.821M was approved in
current expenditures, and $2.24M for the purchase of furniture and equipment under capital
expenditures.