Bolsonaro’s Guyana visit cancelled following death of mother

Slated to arrive in Guyana for an official visit and further talks with the Irfaan Ali led government on Friday morning, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has cancelled the visit at the last minute following the sudden death of his mother.

The cancellation was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Elizabeth Harper.

She told the News Room via telephone that Bolsonaro’s mother passed away in Brazil suddenly and he has flown back home.

She said although some members of his almost 20-member delegation are already in Guyana, no meetings are likely to go ahead in his absence.

According to Brazilian media, Olinda Bonturi Bolsonaro died early Friday in the city of São Paulo after being hospitalized last Monday. She was 94.

President Bolsonaro had met with Dr. Ali and Suriname’s President Chandikapersaud Santokhi in Paramaribo on Thursday.

The leaders were expected to hold talks on the bilateral agendas in areas such as trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, security, defence, technical cooperation and regional issues along with projects of common interest.