PS urges Vincentians to make full use of European funding

With the change in the global dynamic, there may be a significant change in the relationship between the Caribbean and Europe — and Vincentians are being called upon to utilise the funds which are being offered.

This call was made by permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nathaniel Williams during the launch of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA){{more}} and Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) standby facility project at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference room last Tuesday.

“With the various changes which are taking place, Europe is showing great interest in Latin American countries because their economies are bigger. Most of us in the Caribbean have graduated, and we are now middle income states according to the United Nations. So, therefore, funding of a grant nature may not be easily available to us, and debt forgiveness is slowly becoming…a thing of the past,” Williams explained.

He noted that this means that any relationship with African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) member countries will see a significant change in the relationship.

“They are now looking at Africa as the region of the world where they would concentrate, and the Eastern European states that have now joined the European Union. So we have to be concerned under the various European Development Fund (EDF’s) Europe is also concerned that the Caribbean has not utilised the funding well…and almost all of the EDF funding its either, they have to extend the time for us or some of the funds go back to Europe,” Williams added.

The permanent secretary also mentioned that of the 14 countries of CARICOM, only six are prepared to present programmes under the EPA standby agreement; and St Vincent and the Grenadines has since received $130,000 to put towards its projects.

Additionally, he added that funding for projects is expected to “dry up” around March 2017.

However, he said: “If about eight of the countries have not utilised the funds as yet, and Trinidad has indicated they may not take the fund… it means there may be some funds available coming to the end of the project next year….”

“If we efficiently implement our programme now, it may be possible where there are gaps at the end of the programme; we may be able to tap into residual funds which are still there. Hence the onus is on us.”

He also pointed out that SVG has been one of the countries that has not benefited as much as other states in having nationals find jobs across the region.

“One of the problems we face when they travel, because they do not have the certification, they are paid a manual wage and the person who has the certification with long fingernails and not accustomed to doing the work is paid the supervisory salary,” Williams pointed out.

“If we certify our workers then we would bring them at a level where they could be supervisors and their salary scales could be much higher than what they are now.”

Moreover, he noted that as civil servants and agents of the state they need to take the necessary action to have the efficient and efficacious implementation of these projects to benefit Vincentians.

He encouraged them to do everything possible to ensure that the project is implemented, the legislation passed and have the amendments done to ensure that there is funding available that when the work is done.(CM)