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St. Lucia to Benefit from US$20.9 Million Post September 11 Package
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St. Lucia to Benefit from US$20.9 Million Post September 11 Package |
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Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - St. Lucia is to benefit from over US$7 million in assistance from the World Bank grouping to help finance the Emergency Recovery Project. Prime Minister Hon. Dr Kenny Anthony at Tuesday’s sitting of the St. Lucia House of Assembly obtained authorization via two motions, to borrow US$3.6 million from the International Development Association and US$1.9 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for post September 11 recovery operations. According to Dr. Anthony the overall US$20.9 million World Bank package, will benefit countries of the OECS with the exception of Antigua. The assistance comes in the wake of requests from the US and other major world governments, for countries to put in place immediate upgrading of security measures at air and sea ports. Of the US$7.4 million earmarked for St. Lucia, additional funds of US$430 thousand will be provided locally. The project includes three main components that include: safeguarding and maintaining the productive capacity of the tourism sector in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US, enhanced security at ports of entry and strengthening capacity to implement security measures as mandated by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and other international regulatory bodies. The executing agency will be the St. Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA). Meantime some seven months after the events of September 11, Prime Minister Anthony has taken issue with the fact that many Caribbean nations have still not fully grasp the enormity, gravity and consequences of the events of September 11. Dr. Anthony told the house “there are those who still feel that politicians around the region including our own government utilize September 11 as an excuse. Many still do not understand the depth of the crisis unleashed by September 11, 2001. The tragedy is that the pain is largely going to be that of the developing world particularly small island states like ours. Whatever we may choose to believe, the fact is September 11 has changed the Unites States irrevocably, has changed American tourists once and for all and also means that we too have to adapt to those changes precisely because of out location.” According to him, “September 11 has added to our burdens because we are compelled now to invest in additional and infrastructure because if we do not the hash reality is that we will be down graded, blacklisted and the arrival that we expect are simple not going to be here.” A joint signing of the agreement is planned for April 12, 2002 in Washington, USA; however St. Lucia will not be present because the Senate has not had time to approve the measure as yet. St. Lucia will therefore sign the agreement at a later date. |
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