ANTHONY
CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC:
PRIME MINISTER Dr Kenny Anthony, expressing concern over the "frustrating delay" in the implementation of European Union (EU) funded projects in St Lucia, travels to Barbados later this week for talks with EU officials.
Dr. Anthony held discussions here on the weekend with the Barbados-based EU Ambassador Amos Ticani, and announced that he would be leading a delegation to Bridgetown this week for further talks with EU officials.
"This is a matter that is causing me grave concern. A lot of it has to do with new financial rules introduced by the EU over the last two to three years. There are considerable delays in obtaining approval for project particularly at the Brussels end," Dr. Anthony said.
"We enter into these agreements with the EU and we have to work with the EU delegation in Barbados who in turn must submit the relevant documents to the EU in Brussels," he added.
Dr. Anthony explained that the EU organisation in Brussels is an extraordinary bureaucracy where it takes a considerable amount of time for projects to be approved.
"So we expect to meet the EU delegation in Barbados this week to discuss the matter further as the delays could have implications for the local economy," he noted.
He said that there are some projects awaiting approval, which are of major importance to the people of this country, particularly in low income housing programmes, as well as projects to assist in the financing of business activity among the farming communities.
