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HOME	DECEMBER 17th, 2005

USAID ends programme in Grenada

The United States Government has ended its assistance programme in Grenada following the passage of Hurricane Ivan 15 months ago.
The programme which ran for more than a year, was officially closed last Friday during a short ceremony held at the Flamboyant Hotel in the south of the island.

In the aftermath of hurricane Ivan in September 2004, the US Government launched the Hurricane Ivan Recovery Programme and channeled $US45 in emergency assistance to the Spice Isle
through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In speaking at the closing, US Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Mary Kramer said that “although we are completing my Government’s Ivan assistance programme, there are many other US Government programmes ongoing in Grenada.”

She pointed out that the Peace Corps will continue its projects in Grenada, while the State Department and other agencies will continue to fund training for the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) in matters such as anti-narcotics and financial investigations.

Ambassador Kramer disclosed that the U.S State Department is providing grant funding for work by Grenadians on HIV/AIDS awareness, as well as to help preserve ancient petroglyphs, and the international visitor programme on a variety of subjects.

She also said that Grenada was benefitting from its participation in the Fulbright and Humphrey fellowship programmes and that donation of books to the National Library will continue.

The Ambassador urged “Grenada to build on the USAID programme’s work to develop diversity and higher value added markets in your crucial agriculture and tourism sectors and to sustain community based projects such as Gouyave’s Fish Friday.”

In speaking about the future of the island, she indicated that, “just as our assistance programme was made more effective by diligent auditors, Grenada ‘s economic future will be served by a strong government emphasis on transparency and good governance.”

The Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government has often been criticised by opponents of lacking in transparency and in good governance.

Prime Minister Mitchell who was present thanked USAID for the assistance rendered to Grenada, adding that the island still needs aid from outsiders to help with its development.

He indicated that the critical nutmeg industry which earned most of the foreign exchange in agricultural produce prior to Ivan, was severely battered and will come back on stream in the next six years.

The first phase of the USAID funded program in Grenada was the Emergency Relief which ran from September-November 2004.

It was followed by the Immediate Recovery which ran from December 2004 to March 2005, and the Expanded Recovery Program March 2005 to December 2005.

The latter two covered Community Revitalisation, Business and Agricultural Revitalisation, School Rehabilitation and Re-Supply, and Government of Grenada Support. Under Community Revitalisation, 60 new hurricane resistance homes were built, more than 1000 homes repaired, while more than 30 local community and faith-based organisations received grants.

Health Centers, community centers, homes, historical sites, and tourist attractions were also refurbished. Under that program the Annandale Water Treatment facility was completely renovated.

The Business and Agricultural Revitalisation project afforded 833 persons to be trained in construction skills, 1591 in tourism and 3164 persons received training in skills such as marine and information technology.

In addition, a number of loans were given out to the micro, small and medium enterprises. Farmers also received a significant amount of help them in the agriculture sector.

Under the School Repair and Re-supply programme, 83 schools either received repairs to their buildings or got school supplies.

The US Government also assisted government in managing its commercial debt burden. The state-run Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD) was assisted in coordinating recovery effort and to mobilise local and international resources.