Region at disadvantage in accessing promised EU resources – Gonsalves

A major financial challenge facing the OECS region has been brought to the fore by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

Gonsalves, representing the CARIFORUM region at the EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit in Spain on May 17, 2010, expressed that while the region is grateful for financial assistance from the EU, it is still placed at a disadvantage when there is a need to access promised resources.{{more}}

A case in point, said Gonsalves, relates to the EU’s Vulnerability FLEX (V-FLEX) Mechanism.

He said seven out of 36 requests for financial assistance in 2010 are from CARIFORUM states, which are collectively seeking 84 million Euros.

“When added to those of other ACP states, the existing requests exceed the resources available,” Gonsalves exclaimed.

He pointed out that the two-year duration of the existing mechanism, based on a premise of short term recovery, is inadequate and does not correspond to the time it will take for ACP states to recover from the financial and economic crisis.

“At the same time, while regional integration and cooperation are touted from the rooftops, as central pillars of ACP/EU and CARIFORUM/EU Cooperation, no provisions are made for access to V-FLEX and other such mechanisms by sub-regions like the OECS which desperately require such support,” Gonsalves disclosed.

The EU was challenged to further enhance its standing by increasing the resources available to the mechanism, expanding its duration and making provision for sub-regions like the OECS which have already moved to full monetary union.

Meanwhile, Gonsalves challenged CARICOM Leaders to advance themselves and address issues of the region in the highest councils of the world.

In recent weeks, Gonsalves has been calling for bolder leadership from Caribbean leaders and for them to be less timid.

Gonsalves gave this encouragement while reporting Tuesday on the just concluded Madrid Summit where CARIFORUM and EU leaders exchanged views on ongoing priorities including the establishment of a Caribbean Infrastructure Trust Fund, advancing EPA implementation and other ways to address the current trade related, economic and social challenges facing the Caribbean region.

At this meeting the leaders also reconfirmed their commitment to the reconstruction of Haiti following the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.

In that regard, they agreed to fully support the implementation of the Haitian Government’s Action Plan for National Recovery and Development, which was endorsed at the UN International Donors Conference on Haiti, held in New York on March 31, 2010.