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By: Janelle Charles
The tab will be split several ways; between the private sector, statutory bodies the Government of St. Lucia and other regional governments. But at the end of the day the St. Lucia Government will bear the brunt of the costs. Bernard La Corbiniere is responsible for the conference budget he says; "the private sector, statutory bodies and other governments will contribute approximately $570,000 of that 2 million."
Several Government Ministries including the Ministry of Works have also brought forward repair works to coincide with the CARICOM Summit. Some Regional Government will make contributions to the staging of the Summit’s closing ceremony. Mc Stephen Aubertine – CARICOM preparatory committee- "The committee was able to have the countries (the government) from which the entertainers come bear the cost of the performance fees. Some countries agreed, others are not too clear on it."
Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony says that he believes that those costs will be fully justified and the benefits that St. Lucia will get by way of infusion of foreign exchange would ultimately outweigh the costs of putting it all together.
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The
staging of the silver anniversary meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government carries a high
price tag. The entire cost is being estimated at just over two million dollars.
St. Lucia’s private sector
will host various aspects of the Summit’s social programme while Cable and Wireless
will finance the media center and provide telecommunication links to broadcast sections of
the Conference. Local statutory Boards are providing gifts for the delegates and the
National Insurance Scheme will rent its new conference facility to government at a cost of
$450,000.
In spite of all those contribution government will foot a significant portion
of the bill to the tune of one point five million dollars. This will go towards paying for
the conference secretariat, accommodation for delegates, as well as transportation costs
for the various persons participating in the conference.