Grenada and the rest of the Caribbean will soon benefit from a $US64.3 million assistance programme to be implemented in the region by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

It covers an Economic Growth programme that entails working with the public and private sectors to assist them in improving their business environment so that they can meet international standards by increasing their capacity.

USAID has already started several projects under the Economic Growth programme which include the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Telecommunications Reform Project, a Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Development project and modernisation of Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary legislation in the OECS.

The American based organisation is also providing assistance for Environmental Management among public and private sector enterprises.

It involves increasing their access to the best environmental practices, improving environmental policies and compliance measures as well as strengthening organisational capacity to finance environmental improvements.

Mission Director for USAID/Jamaica and the Caribbean Regional Programme Karen Turner told reporters at a luncheon last Friday at Coyaba Beach Resort that assistance will also be provided to the Administration of Justice Programme.

She said that this will help increase the efficiency and fairness of the legal system in the Caribbean by improving access to information through computerisation as well as provide training for judges, magistrates, and court staff.

According to the USAID Director, this project also entails the revision and updating of laws relating to the Caribbean Single Market & Economy, Justice and Security, Free Trade Area of the Americas and HIV/AIDS issues.

Turner was in Grenada last Friday along with Karen Moore USAID Technical Officer for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean where they met with governmental officials and members of the media to speak about the new programmes.

She disclosed that the Caribbean Regional Programme(CRP) is a five-year sustainable development strategy of USAID and is aimed at helping the region meet the challenges of globalisation and liberalisation of the world economy as well as the FTAA.

Turner pointed out that the overall goal of the programme is for the development of a partnership with regional institutions, Non Governmental Organisations and the private sector to support broad-based, sustainable growth in the areas of economic environment, administration of justice and HIV/AIDS.