Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni

WESTERN BUREAU:

Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Jamaica, Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni, on Wednesday sought to dispel recent claims that European Union (EU) funding was being granted to Jamaica in exchange for the legalisation of immoral acts.

The Ambassador came out in defence of the EU during a Rural Diversification Programme, Social and Economic Infrastructure Projects signing between the Government and the EU in Montego Bay.

"Ladies and gentlemen, EU money is not blood money. EU money is banana money. EU money is sugar money, money for the community, money for the average man. It is not offered with conditions," the Ambassador said. "The only condition is that it should be used for the welfare of the Jamaican people."

The two grant contracts, totalling €2.3 million (J$230 million), will benefit the St James Parish Council and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund. The grants are aimed at providing communities dependent on the banana industry with more social and economic opportunities, through sub-projects in six banana-producing parishes, Portland, St Mary, St Thomas, St Catherine, Clarendon and St James.

The Ambassador said the EU would not be scaling down any of its programmes in Jamaica. "The world crisis is under our eyes and a number of programmes throughout the world - national and international programmes in developed and developing countries - are being cut down; we are not cutting down our programme in Jamaica," he declared.

"We are not cutting our programmes in the developing world. We have a sacred commitment, which is called the Cotonou Convention. Our commitment stands firm because it is in times of crisis that you know your real friends," added the Ambassador.