Ambassador to Venezuela soon – Minister Todd

The Guyana Government through the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd on Monday said it has every intention to appoint an Ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Todd’s comments were in response to questions asked by Opposition Parliamentarian Amanza Walton-Desir in the National Assembly.

He said the Guyana Government will soon seek the agrément of Venezuela for its nominee to fill the position of Ambassador to that country.

The Minister did not provide any names and also did not respond specifically to the query for a date by when the Ambassador will be appointed.

Asked about the reasons for the non-appointment of an ambassador to date, Todd said the government has taken its time to review a number of potential candidates in order that a suitable nominee could be presented.

Guyana’s embassy in Caracas has been without an ambassador since 2019.

Ambassador Cheryl Miles, a career diplomat, was appointed by former President David Granger shortly after the APNU+AFC Coalition came into office in 2015 but her contract was terminated three years later.

Long serving Foreign Service Officer Robyn Motayne is currently serving as the Chargé d’ Affaires to Venezuela and heads the embassy there.

And according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, Patrick Husain is Guyana’s Consul General in Venezuela.

In April 2022, a new Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana was appointed in the person of Carlos Amador Perez Silva.

Prior and for a brief period, Venezuela also had as head of its Embassy in Georgetown, Chargé d’Affaires Moses Chavez.