The inaugural meeting of the Ministerial Advisory Council for Foreign Affairs is being convened today at the Foreign Service Institute under the chairmanship of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rudy Insanally.

A release from the ministry says the objectives of the council are “to provide a forum for the expression of diverse perspectives on national policy issues and through its deliberations, make a significant contributions to the country’s foreign policy aspirations.”

Insanally told Stabroek News that not all the members of the Council would be present at today’s meeting and that the issues under consideration would determine which of the council members meet to discuss them.

The United Nations Development Programme is funding the work of the council.

The release adds that the main themes for the meeting are the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana, the promotion of sustainable development of the nation’s natural resources and the projection of Guyana’s image overseas.

The release says the membership of the council is composed of persons “who have a deep and abiding interest and experience in international affairs and in meeting the challenges facing Guyana in economic, political and social advancement.”

Stabroek News understands that some of the members who will be at the inaugural meeting are Professor Denis Benn, and Dr Havelock Brewster, who are based respectively in Jamaica and the United States of America, Dr Barton Scotland, Rashleigh Jackson, Dr Rishi Thakur, and Dr Mark Kirton.