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EU steps in to aid Tivoli
Published: Thursday | June 3, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer The Government seems optimistic that it will not have to dip into the public coffers to [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]finance[/COLOR][/COLOR] the restoration efforts in Tivoli Gardens.
The Golding administration has formally commenced a process of appeal to international donors for much-needed assistance to rehabilitate the troubled community.
The Delegation of the European Commission (EC) to Jamaica is one of the grant-aiding entities that have been approached by the Government. It has already signalled that it will extend a helping hand.
The EC is the executive arm of the European Union (EU).
The local EC offices, headed by Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni, have confirmed a statement by National [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Security[/COLOR][/COLOR] Minister Dwight Nelson that international donors were being approached.
Government officials have signalled that they have no intention of applying more pressure on the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Budget[/COLOR][/COLOR] and have planned to stay out of the Consolidated [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Fund[/COLOR][/COLOR].
The restoration efforts are expected to run into millions of dollars.
Tivoli Gardens was subjected to upheavals and a massive, multi-faceted operation last week as gunmen resisted an attempt by military and police personnel to apprehend alleged drug lord, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
Plans behind the scenes
In response to Gleaner queries, the EC delegation revealed that it had been approached by the Government to assist in the restoration efforts.
"The EU has confirmed that it will work with the Government to see how existing and upcoming programmes could be adapted to meet the extraordinary needs arising from the recent unrest," aides to Mazzocchi Alemanni told The Gleaner.
Nelson was emphatic that the Government did not plan to rely on taxpayers to foot the bill.
The EC [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]office[/COLOR][/COLOR] told The Gleaner that Prime Minister Bruce Golding had invited international donors to meet him on Monday to discuss response in the aftermath of last week's violent disturbances.
"In this meeting, donors were informed that a 'concept paper' was being produced by Government, in conjunction with the private sector and NGOs (non-governmental organisations)," the delegation disclosed.
The EU said this was intended to fine-tune details to the recently announced National Transformation Programme which aims to curb crime and corruption.
"This paper is expected to serve as a framework for donors to develop and adapt programmes to support the Government's measures, and is expected to be available in the next few days," the delegation said in an emailed response to queries from The Gleaner.
The EC delegation reiterated that all development assistance from the EU was in the form of grants.
It noted that approximately J$9 billion was disbursed in 2009, and a similar amount is expected in 2010.
Nelson promised that the personal effects of residents of Tivoli Gardens, including furniture and appliances which were damaged, as well as goods belonging to market vendors which were destroyed or lost in the unrest, would be restored.
Speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum on Tuesday, Nelson also gave an undertaking that the buildings that were destroyed or damaged during the military incursion would be repaired by the Government.
gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com
Published: Thursday | June 3, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer The Government seems optimistic that it will not have to dip into the public coffers to [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]finance[/COLOR][/COLOR] the restoration efforts in Tivoli Gardens.
The Golding administration has formally commenced a process of appeal to international donors for much-needed assistance to rehabilitate the troubled community.
The Delegation of the European Commission (EC) to Jamaica is one of the grant-aiding entities that have been approached by the Government. It has already signalled that it will extend a helping hand.
The EC is the executive arm of the European Union (EU).
The local EC offices, headed by Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni, have confirmed a statement by National [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Security[/COLOR][/COLOR] Minister Dwight Nelson that international donors were being approached.
Government officials have signalled that they have no intention of applying more pressure on the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Budget[/COLOR][/COLOR] and have planned to stay out of the Consolidated [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Fund[/COLOR][/COLOR].
The restoration efforts are expected to run into millions of dollars.
Tivoli Gardens was subjected to upheavals and a massive, multi-faceted operation last week as gunmen resisted an attempt by military and police personnel to apprehend alleged drug lord, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
Plans behind the scenes
In response to Gleaner queries, the EC delegation revealed that it had been approached by the Government to assist in the restoration efforts.
"The EU has confirmed that it will work with the Government to see how existing and upcoming programmes could be adapted to meet the extraordinary needs arising from the recent unrest," aides to Mazzocchi Alemanni told The Gleaner.
Nelson was emphatic that the Government did not plan to rely on taxpayers to foot the bill.
The EC [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]office[/COLOR][/COLOR] told The Gleaner that Prime Minister Bruce Golding had invited international donors to meet him on Monday to discuss response in the aftermath of last week's violent disturbances.
"In this meeting, donors were informed that a 'concept paper' was being produced by Government, in conjunction with the private sector and NGOs (non-governmental organisations)," the delegation disclosed.
The EU said this was intended to fine-tune details to the recently announced National Transformation Programme which aims to curb crime and corruption.
"This paper is expected to serve as a framework for donors to develop and adapt programmes to support the Government's measures, and is expected to be available in the next few days," the delegation said in an emailed response to queries from The Gleaner.
The EC delegation reiterated that all development assistance from the EU was in the form of grants.
It noted that approximately J$9 billion was disbursed in 2009, and a similar amount is expected in 2010.
Nelson promised that the personal effects of residents of Tivoli Gardens, including furniture and appliances which were damaged, as well as goods belonging to market vendors which were destroyed or lost in the unrest, would be restored.
Speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum on Tuesday, Nelson also gave an undertaking that the buildings that were destroyed or damaged during the military incursion would be repaired by the Government.
gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com
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