Prime Minister Gaston Browne is lamenting the difficulty in obtaining monies promised to Barbuda by major international donor countries and organisations.
The prime minister says up to this day his government has not gotten a cent from the million promised by governments of Canada, Britain and the European Union.
“People think these donor monies come easily,” the country’s leader lamented while speaking on Pointe FM over the weekend.
“Even when you do get them, it takes a significant amount of time,” Browne said.
“I mean we have been talking about the EU 5 million euro since last October and up to this day we haven’t gotten a cent,” said Browne who is also finance minister.
“We haven’t gotten a cent of the British funded money either. Canada gave three million and we have gotten a cent,” the prime minister told radio listeners.
“And it’s not for a lack of effort because we have been on to them consistently,” he added.
Residents have lamented the slow pace of development on Barbuda post-Hurricane Irma but the prime minister says international donors are insisting that their monies not be put towards housing repairs.
“In fact, we meeting next month with the brits to determine how we can use that three million if we can use it for the port, and it’s just a whole series of conditionalities as to how you can use the funds and you know its just a lot of problems,” he said.
He said the Caribbean Development Bank has attached a number of conditionalities to the 28 million dollar loan the government has negotiated.
Browne has also criticised Barbudans for not being appreciative of “the effort of my government makes to try and raise these resources.”
A donor pledging conference last year raised millions for Barbuda and other countries affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria
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PM the issue is lack of trust.
Dem fraid the ALP and their mafia shakedown gang.
Dem know soon as the money hit antigua it gone in labour party pocket for next election
one minister is on record shaking down a british businessman , same thing he allegedly did to offshore gaming companies, haddeed and stanford
OH PLEASE.
I want a car for my mum and 2 million d
Have you considered where these governments will be getting the money to give you? From taxes collected from their people. Maybe you can explain to them why millionaires, including politicians, pay no income taxes while you go begging other countries’ taxpayers money.
Why would any govt that punishes corrupt politicians take their people’s hard earned taxes to fund a people who espouse/appreciate/encourage corruption/vote proudly for tainted politicians?
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