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Still No EU Recovery Money
Cayman net news
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Hon Kurt Tibbetts, Leader
of Government Business
Hon Alden McLaughlin,
Minister for Education
There is still no sign of the anticipated $7.2 million from the European Union which the Government has been expecting for some time to help with recovery post Hurricane Ivan.
Asked about the EU 'C' Reserve Fund recovery assistance money at the weekly media briefing by Cabinet members on 16 June 2006, the Leader of Government Business, Honourable Kurt Tibbetts, said that "red tape and bureaucracy" have surrounded the process over the money.
"I can't explain the reasons for the delay," he said.
At a media briefing on 16 December 2005, Minister of Education and the Cayman Islands representative on the matter, Hon Alden McLaughlin, spoke about the country's pursuit of the "exceptional circumstance" EU aid package.
He explained that the sum usually allotted from the 'C' Reserve pool of funds - one dedicated to Emergency Humanitarian Aid - is 3.6 million.
He however said that there was room to argue for twice that amount in exceptional circumstances.
On 16 December Mr McLaughlin also revealed that during his in-person presentation to the Commission on the matter, he argued that Cayman sustained more damage from Hurricane Ivan than other countries like Jamaica and Grenada had sustained.
He said some components of his brief presentation included facts that "surprised" the Commissioner, Jean Michele, and his team.
Asked about a timeline on a response on the loan request Mr McLaughlin had said at that time that if Cayman's request had remained within the capped range of 3.6 million, some word on the matter would have been received by the end of December 2005.
He said however that requests falling in the category of exceptional circumstances must go before the Development Fund Committee for review and, that Committee was not due to meet until February 2006.
However, now four months after that February date, Mr Tibbetts said on 16 June 2006 that even though Cayman's Governor, H.E Stuart Jack, was working hard to "push the process" and, the Government had been "in constant contact with Jamaica, and with Brussels on the matter," there was still no response and, the Government had not received any money.
With all of this however, Mr Tibbetts was careful to point out that the Government was still hoping that they would receive the $7.2 million at some point.
"Once again, we are hopeful that it will happen shortly. We don't think that it is not going to happen," the Leader of Government Business assured.
Cayman net news
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Hon Kurt Tibbetts, Leader
of Government Business
Hon Alden McLaughlin,
Minister for Education
There is still no sign of the anticipated $7.2 million from the European Union which the Government has been expecting for some time to help with recovery post Hurricane Ivan.
Asked about the EU 'C' Reserve Fund recovery assistance money at the weekly media briefing by Cabinet members on 16 June 2006, the Leader of Government Business, Honourable Kurt Tibbetts, said that "red tape and bureaucracy" have surrounded the process over the money.
"I can't explain the reasons for the delay," he said.
At a media briefing on 16 December 2005, Minister of Education and the Cayman Islands representative on the matter, Hon Alden McLaughlin, spoke about the country's pursuit of the "exceptional circumstance" EU aid package.
He explained that the sum usually allotted from the 'C' Reserve pool of funds - one dedicated to Emergency Humanitarian Aid - is 3.6 million.
He however said that there was room to argue for twice that amount in exceptional circumstances.
On 16 December Mr McLaughlin also revealed that during his in-person presentation to the Commission on the matter, he argued that Cayman sustained more damage from Hurricane Ivan than other countries like Jamaica and Grenada had sustained.
He said some components of his brief presentation included facts that "surprised" the Commissioner, Jean Michele, and his team.
Asked about a timeline on a response on the loan request Mr McLaughlin had said at that time that if Cayman's request had remained within the capped range of 3.6 million, some word on the matter would have been received by the end of December 2005.
He said however that requests falling in the category of exceptional circumstances must go before the Development Fund Committee for review and, that Committee was not due to meet until February 2006.
However, now four months after that February date, Mr Tibbetts said on 16 June 2006 that even though Cayman's Governor, H.E Stuart Jack, was working hard to "push the process" and, the Government had been "in constant contact with Jamaica, and with Brussels on the matter," there was still no response and, the Government had not received any money.
With all of this however, Mr Tibbetts was careful to point out that the Government was still hoping that they would receive the $7.2 million at some point.
"Once again, we are hopeful that it will happen shortly. We don't think that it is not going to happen," the Leader of Government Business assured.
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