Don’t leave us behind, Premier’s Special Envoy tells UN
Benito Wheatley, Special Envoy to Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, made a compelling case for the inclusion of Associate Member Countries (AMCs) in sustainable development efforts at a United Nations (UN) forum recently.
The Premier’s Special Envoy successfully lobbied the UN to secure support for some 13 British, Dutch, French and United States (US) territories in the Caribbean at the UN Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Regional Preparatory Meeting held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
“What we are seeking at this meeting is support for AMCs to qualify for some form of international support for SIDS where it is possible in order to provide us with some form of assistance,” he said while urging that AMCs should not be left behind.
He pointed out that middle or high-income countries like the BVI do not generally qualify for official development assistance or concessional financing under existing international rules, despite facing significant financial constraints as small economies.
“You will recall that after the BVI sustained damage worth $2.3 billion dollars from hurricanes Irma and Maria, we only qualified for loans on our own credit from the Caribbean Development Bank in the amount of $110 million dollars.”
Wheatley explained that the BVI government received no direct grants toward its budget for operations or reconstruction and said this is the reason why, five years later, the territory remains in a state of rebuilding.
He further noted that the BVI and some AMCs also do not qualify for climate financing under established international mechanisms, despite having the same climate vulnerability as other islands in the Caribbean, and also the need to transition to renewable energy.
According to Wheatley, partnerships are desperately needed to fill existing gaps in support to the AMCs for sustainable development and climate change in order for AMCs to achieve sustainable development goals.
Wheatley further related that the BVI does not receive any financial assistance from the UK and has not received any external funds for its operational budget since 1978, therefore, the BVI has to find the additional resources needed to achieve the things it wants to do.
The Associate Member Countries of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) include Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands and the US Virgin Islands.
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The premier game he Bruder chatting alot ah spite where eva he go
This guy is a joke who does he speak for?
Well done Mr. Wheatley
“We needed a lot of money….we didn’t get much money.” Some ‘compelling’ argument. And this guy probably makes 12x the wage of any BVIslander, before the kickbacks he no doubt takes.
Would those loans not come with conditions too? I thought we refused the big bad UK loan offer. You think the UN gives out of the goodness of their hearts?
Did you say that your are a representative to the UN?
How ironic? You don’t want the UN to leave you behind but yet you have an impotent government which leaves its people behind? You have selfish and greedy politicians that only think about themselves and you don’t want get left behind. Get out of here you whining baby!
More to the point, does anyone really think the UN will seriously consider providing money to a country whose leader is under arrest and likely going to jail along with numerous senior government members and employees awaiting the same treatment. The COI was a rude awakening for the BVI which is now sitting with a major trust problem in the eyes of the real world. When and how the BVI implements the COI recommendations will play a central role in the territories future.
Dem just vex when a local helping he country. Tell them go get the money back from Damion and keep offa Wheatley.
That’s the best you can do? Mention Dameon? A matter that was immediately brought to light? Let’s talk about the money given to family and friends which the COI uncovered. But we good on giving our people bush cutting work like only only bush cutting work good for them. Ridiculous.
im my opinion the further we keep away from the un the better off in the longrun they are not out for the good of the world but to force there lucifarian agenda against all time will tell the truth shall be revealed