Latest update March 13th, 2026 12:35 AM
Govt. paying US$90,000 monthly to U.S. lobby firms
(Kaieteur News) – The Government of Guyana is paying two foreign lobbying firms a combined US$90,000 per month to represent its interests abroad, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd confirmed during Tuesday’s consideration of the 2026 Budget Estimates.
The disclosure came as $269 million was allocated for “advocacy services” under the ministry.
Todd was at the time responding to questions posed by Forward Movement Guyana (FMG) party leader and Member of Parliament, (MP) Amanza Walton Desir who sought clarity on the type of “advocacy services” the firms conducted for the government.
Member of Parliament, (MP) Amanza Walton Desir
MP Walton-Desir questioned the particular parameters within which the lobbyists are hired in the context of the development. The minister explained that the firms take direction from Guyana and are intended to enhance reach and visibility rather than replace diplomats or determine policy.
Todd explained that “The lobby firms are not there to help us conduct our foreign policy. These are registered agencies that advocate on behalf of governments and in our case because of where we are in terms of our development trajectory and we have to also compete for the attention of big states it helps us to maneuver in the corridors of power to get to those offices that they need to hear from us and we don’t have the manpower or the size to do it.”
While acknowledging “lobbying is not unusual” globally, Walton-Desir, raised concerns about whether Guyanese expertise are being bypassed to hire foreign firms.
In response, Todd said diaspora engagement does happen and can sometimes be on a voluntary basis, but maintained that lobbying firms typically have seasoned professionals, often including retired diplomats with expertise to conduct adequate representation on behalf of the Government of Guyana.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd
“When we’re dealing with a very competitive global environment and you as a country in the protection of your people and the advancement of your country, you need outfits that have the reach and the capacity and the human capital to do that. And it’s no it’s not strange to Guyana. You look at most of the developing world and even larger countries they will hire lobby firms in the jurisdiction where they may want to penetrate and it is something that that yields benefits for a country. It’s not a case where as a country you can hire a marketing firm. We’re not running a business…”
We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) parliamentarian, Tabitha Sarabo Haley queried specifically whether the lobbying firms hired by his ministry had any work to do regarding extradition matters.
Todd maintained that “the firms are hired to ensure that we are able to highlight those initiatives that we find pertinent to not only our national policies and national development but ensuring that we can more effectively execute our foreign policy agenda.”
Sarabo-Haley asked whether the minister could name the firms and give a breakdown as to how much they are paid. To which, Minister Todd indicated that the government continues to retain DR Consultancy at US$40,000 per month and Continental Strategy LLC at US$50,000.
The WIN MP then asked of the foreign minister whether he could state whether any recent extradition request was received.
However, house speaker Manzoor Nadir did not allow the question to be put to the minister. He said this is especially since it had nothing to do with the line item being considered at the time. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has been allocated $10.03 billion in this year’s budget.
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