Britain announces aid programme for five Eastern Caribbean countries until 2020

LONDON, England -- Hugh Walker (head of DFID Caribbean) has signed a joint letter of intent with St Vincent and the Grenadines on behalf of Desmond Swayne, Britain’s minister for international development.

Walker said, "The United Kingdom is committed to the long-term development of the Caribbean. The Department for International Development (DFID) is starting a new set of development programmes which will run until 2020. DFID has listened carefully to what Eastern Caribbean countries have said are the key challenges for the region. Our projects will focus on supporting economic growth and job creation, increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, and reducing the risks posed by climate change and natural disasters."

The UK has already committed to spend up to £75 million in the Caribbean from 2011 to 2015. DFID will now invest a similar amount in the Caribbean from 2016 to 2020 to achieve shared development objectives.

DFID will work closely with Eastern Caribbean countries to build programmes better tailored to their individual needs. The new programme will build on the successes of DFID’s current regional support. The strong personal, cultural and institutional links between the UK and the Caribbean will help deliver results for the people of the Caribbean. DFID will work with governments and partners in Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, to help them return to economic growth while managing the risks from external shocks.

DFID will continue to work regionally to support Caribbean integration and tackle regional issues which are essential to the Caribbean’s long-term development. It will continue to play an important role through other institutions such as the EU and Caribbean Development Bank (to which the UK is a significant contributor).