Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

A total of seven point one million dollars (XCD$7.1 million) will be spent on a number of projects island wide under the sixth programme of the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF). The new phase of the fund was formerly launched on Wednesday 18th November, 2009 and will focus on projects involving water supply systems, educational facilities, access, skills training, health and vulnerable groups.

The BNTF Five programme is scheduled for completion on June 30, 2009. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development and Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the BNTF programme, Ruth Allport at the formal launching, outlined the objectives of the programme and stated that the country is prepared to implement those projects.

“The programme will provide resources to poor communities in order to improve access to basic infrastructure services, provide temporary employment, enhance economic activity through skills enhancement and reduce beneficiary’s economic and social vulnerability to risk that impact on income and well being. Dominica’s Basic Needs Trust Fund sixth grant agreement was signed on February 4, 2009. All conditions president to the first disbursement of funds have been satisfied and we are ready to implement.”

Hon. Minister for Community Development, Gender Affairs, Culture and Information, Loreen Bannis-Roberts, in addressing the formal launching explained that these programmes under the BNTF are aimed at reducing the pressures brought about by poverty and unemployment.

“There is much emphasis on social protection programming in Dominica because Government has made it a priority to provide assistance to people individually and collectively to manage the pressures of disrupted livelihoods and to support the very poor. We recognise that the scale of this challenge is huge for in addition to the pressures exerted by poverty and employment, our social system is also required to respond to several urgent issues such as child abuse and neglect, juvenile justice and abandonment of the elderly.”

Some of the projects to be completed under the BNTF Five programme include the construction of the Clifton Health Centre, The Wills Strathmore Stevens Primary School and the Morne Savon Water Project. According to the Hon. Minister close to half the amount of money under the programme will go towards six major water projects on the island.

“In an effort to provide portable water to communities and ensure that Dominica moves further towards meeting the target of the millennium development goals, six large water projects amounting to over three million dollars will begin very soon. These projects are:

1. The Petite Savanne water upgrade at EC$1 246 364.00
2. Card Bois in Bagatelle water supply at EC$737 957.50
3. Upper Giraudel and Champfleur water supply at EC$585 150.00
4. The North End, Marigot water supply at EC$2 720 078.00
5. The Cocoyer water supply in Clifton
6. The Wesley distribution network extension

 The Dominica Government is providing twenty percent (20%) while the Caribbean Development Bank is providing the other eighty percent (80%) to undertake the projects.