Montserrat to be concerned
Editor:The following article should be of deep concern to Montserrat. As information is sought about the aid and finances of government presently, it is believed though preliminary, while not unfounded that Montserrat may find itself in a similar position with the EU.
President Donald Ramotar
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The European Union (EU) Friday announced that it was “temporarily” withholding the payment of EURO 25 million ((One Euro =US$1.29 cents) to Guyana “until all eligibility criteria, inter alia budget oversight, are satisfactorily addressed”.
In a brief statement, the EU said that it has a long standing commitment to support development and poverty reduction in Guyana and that in 2014 EURO 34 million were allocated to Guyana under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).
The EU said the aid is channeled through different modalities including budget support.
It said it has two on-going budget support programmes here, one for the sugar sector estimated at EURO 28.9 million and the other for sea defences at EURO 14.8 million.
“The latest partial payments related to these two programmes of EURO 25 million have been temporarily put on hold until all eligibility criteria, inter alia budget oversight, are satisfactorily addressed,” the statement said.
Last week, senior government officials accused the EU of being in conspiracy with the United Kingdom to deny funds to Guyana.
Outgoing British High Commissioner, Andrew Ayre, said London is would not favour the disbursement of British taxpayers’ money to Guyana in the absence of parliamentary oversight.
President Donald Ramotar has since named May 11, 2015 as the date for general and regional elections.
