US$400 million for TT

Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson- Regis announced on Friday the disbursement covers the period 2017 to 2021.

According to a statement issued from her ministry, the disclosure was first made at the launch of the TT Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2017- 2021 at the Magdalena Grand Hotel, Tobago on Thursday.

The ministry serves as the focal point between the Government and the CDB.

Ro bi n s on - R e g i s serves as the governor for TT on the board of governors of the CDB, while permanent secretary Joanne Deoraj is the director for TT.

The Cabinet held its weekly meeting at the hotel on Thursday and several government ministers held discussions with their counterparts in the Tobago House of Assembly THA about projects in Tobago.

These fell within areas such as finance, infrastructure, tourism and security.

The ministry said this CSP identifies and focuses on the needs of Tobago, as the methodologies used in many of the smaller borrowing member countries of the bank can be applied to Tobago. The CSP goes as far as to make a distinct allocation of resources to Tobago of US $67 million.

This sum is an increase of US$35.7 million over the previous grant between 2011-2014 under the People’s Partnership government.

The programme of assistance is designed to help achieve: improved quality of and access to education and training (US$146.2 million); strengthened social protection, (US$1 million); increased productivity, competitiveness and economic diversification (US$20.4 million); improved evidence-based development planning and institutional development (US$6.1 million); and strengthened environmental management supported by safe and resilient infrastructure (US$25 million).