A review of the partnership between the European Union and the Government of Dominica has concluded that Dominica has performed creditably and is in good standing to receive future financial support under the European Development Fund (EDF) Budget Support Programme.
Head of Delegation of the European Union to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Ambassador Mikael Barfod, gave that assurance following a review meeting of the 10th EDF General Budget Support, at the Finance Ministry on Wednesday July 31st, 2013.
The ongoing Multi-sector Budget Support Programme under the 10th EDF valued at EC$29.25million is designed to support the Government of Dominica in implementing its national development plan, the “Growth and Social Protection Strategy 2012-2014”.
The financing agreement was signed at the end of August 2012 and it is expected that the programme will be disbursed over three years ending June 2014.
The first tranche of EC$11.7 m was received by Dominica on February 7, 2013 on fulfillment of three general conditions related to macroeconomic stability, progress on public financial management reforms and implementation of the national development plan.
Ambassador Barford in an interview with the Government Information Service (GIS) on Wednesday said Dominica has performed very well and it is one of the countries where the EU feels that the partnership is growing from strength to strength.
“The European Union feels that we are in a sense, an all weather friend and we hope that the allocations that we have managed to make to Dominica in the past will continue in the future,” assured Ambassador Barfod.
“With the performance we’ve seen, I don’t see any reason why Dominica should not be able to attract substantial funds for the regional programmes which will be enforced,” he said.
He noted further that in spite of the fact that there is a financial crisis in Europe, and there might be some small adjustments and restructuring, the future is bright as it relates to the grant allocations for Dominica and the general partnership that exist with the country.
The second and third variable tranches are for EC$8.3mn each and make up a total of EC$16.6 mn or 57% of the funds available under the Multi-sector Budget Support programme.
Information from the Ministry of Finance indicates that “40 percent of the total variables tranches is linked to infrastructure improvements in the water sector which would lead to better access and reliability. This is also linked to the ongoing EU-funded Water Supply project which includes rehabilitation work to supply pipelines of the utility company DOWASCO as well as a water conservation and efficiency programme”.
“20 percent or EC$3.3 mn of the total variable tranches is linked to the building of institutional capacity in the geothermal energy sector through technical training of officials in the legal, operational, and regulatory aspects of the sector as well as the approval of a regulatory and energy policy framework by the Government”.
Dominica, with EU funding last year successfully completed a drilling project for geothermal resource exploration.
The Ministry of Finance has also stated that “Another 20% or EC$3.3 mn is linked to a reduction in the neonatal deaths at the Princess Margaret Hospital as a result of interventions to improve the delivery of newborn and maternal-child care as well as a reinforcement of the monitoring systems available at the hospital.
The Government of Dominica is hopeful that this will have an impact on the health status of the country through the improvement of the Millennium Development Goals as it relates to Child Mortality rates.
The final 20 percent or EC$3.3 million will go towards upgrading the vending facilities and the skill set of the communities in the hospitality and eco tourism sector.
The Budget Support to Dominica is in addition to other EU Grant assistance to the country in the form of specific support such as EC$26.8 million to improve the quality and reliability of the potable water services to the communities along the West Coast of Dominica.
EC$21.5 million will go towards providing enhanced opportunities for sustainable rural livelihoods which include the Waitukubuli National Trail.
A further EC$55.8 million in Banana Accompanying Measures to achieve sustained growth in the production and exports of the agricultural sector, EC$5.4 million for geothermal resource exploration as part of a total EC$20 million funding package with Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) and a Technical Cooperation facility of EC$2 million to support Non-State Actors.
This is wonderful news for Dominica!!! Well don Prime Minister & the Government !!! I know how tenacious or PM is and how determined he was to get a piece of the European cake for Dominica to taste. How blooming marvellous!!!! I pray for our PM. May God bless him and God bless Dominica!!!
People of Dominica please come together and lets build Dominica, Dominica is beautiful and we can help develop and Build our country, all we need to Money, we need more hotels and an airport all is attraction to tourist. please stop the critic and embrace the idea and lets work together to build our Country. Dominica is beautiful.
Catherine
I understand that there met not have enough Hotel to accommodate the Visitors, we can work on lets us come to together and Build a Hotel to accommodate people or Visitors who would like to come and visit the Island. and Building Hotels and having more places to stay open up Business, The International airport met not be possible but with people coming and building places where they can stays will create Jobs. When an idea is brought up stop criticizing,
If you notice everywhere else is moving forward We can do the same.
Dominica is beautiful, and we can building our country just look around at our neighbouring country they can do it why not Dominica.
Its time we come together and help build Dominica,
I feel very much discourage when I see some one would mention something then you read a whole lot od negative comment.
I love Dominica, Dominica is my country.
We need to wake-up
Catherine
i hate when people sit and talk out of their cracks…..Ask St Vincent and St Kitts.. once an international airport is under construction…Investors will come to build hotels if conditions attractive. One direct flight can now easily full their hotel rooms. nobody don”t want to build huge resorts on an island and people cant get to the island. Even though I wasn’t born in DA, my parents are from there. I”m sick of advertising Dominica and professors or other people get so interested but cant get to the island because flights are to full or it entails buying 2 tickets and three connections which includes overnighting if they are coming from somewhere outside of a metro area……..to many people would love to visit your island but can’t hop a flight from miami or new york and get there…..in order for Dominica to grow plans for an international airport should be on the table like yesterday
Happy to hear good news. Good luck.
Taxes are the highest in history,Dominica is getting support so where is the money going?
Well there is a 151 billion dollar tidal wave coming.
Surfs up.
Great job the the government!
Any comments UWPites???
villas
bin bobol 
aelling passports like bakes 
geothermal fiasco 
bailed murderers 
hard drugs flowing 
27 mil malice palice 
..any more questions Laybarite?
good news and still this same Dominicans when you talk to them is all about how things bad and had in Dominica ill love to know whats going on
Well great news,in simple terms if i give u my money am sure going to keep my eye on u thank god these people feel good in the government so what the rest say dont matter cause there inc money is to fight party fight.
It is good news to hear that Dominica is receiving funding from the EU and that there are some very good programmes of work ongoing in the country. As someone of Dominican heritage, I would also like to believe that Dominica is making financial in-roads in the tourism & transport elements of the programme so as to make it easier for people to travel to Dominica to benefit the natural beauty that resides on the Island. It would be most beneficial if a suitable International airport would be constructed so as to facilitate the transport of the people of the World to come and see the wonderful island of Dominica.
Regards.
M. Nicholas.
International airport for what ? does Dominica have enough holtels to accomadate just let me say two flight airfrance and jetblue? let me answer no!!! so stop about this airport buznessss. creole fest and carnival hardly have place for ppl. Every where is totally book out, so just imagine when we have more that five flights arriving you and you stupid comment then guest what when you dont have no where for the tourist to stay you will put them under your granny … lol.Let gorvernment fix the road for investors to come in but even that might be an issue cause protest will surley go on for cutting down of the tress to build 5stars hotels cant plz dominican no way no how
Sugar you need to shut the hell up! the man make his point so respect that! how you mean international aiport for what? In this day an age youdon’t expect people to want an airport that is international? so take LIAT stupid flights everytime? You soung like a stupid, small minded person with a cabe manmentality. and you expect people in dominica want to stay her around idiots like you??? people like you never grow never change. dominica is hard;r develponing in any area caus eis citizens like allu that have the country backward. STUPID FOOL!! talking about not having an international airport.! don’t you know we are at present the poorest country in the caribbean? since i dominica so it is..it never grow. other countries developing dominica staying backward. if you donthave anything to say shut your stupid uneducated mouth and stop commenting on what poeple say!! make you point man! is only in Dominica people don’t respect other people opinions!1 FOOL!!
Is this the case of when you build it they will come?
what should come first – more hotels or an Airprot? We get an international airport and then people come -where are they going to stay?
We build the hotels..and people can get there, although it may take awhile.
waht’s the best option?
can we truly afford an International Airport as things stand? Should we first look to building the country from the inside out – then attract teh toursit once the country is “functional” then when the tourist are coming, judge the numbers and detrmine if we need an International airport.
Wht’a the purpose of the International AIrport? Will Dominican become a hub? Is it logical that Dominica act as a hub for the bigger airlines? are there already enough hubs in the Caribbean?
would it make more sense to have a competing airline as opposed to bigger airport right now?
what if flights to Dca were more frequest and more affordable? Would that work until the island’s infrastructure and roads are developed?
where do we start?