The Honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit, has characterised his Government’s management strategy of the island’s financial resources as transparent while debunking opposing claims.
He made the statement specifically referencing the European Union’s fiscal support to Dominica.
The Honourable Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the European Union at an EU-funded contract signing ceremony last week.
The Dominica leader stated that the European Union values the financial prudence and good management of Dominica.
He posited, “They do their independent audits and at no time have they cited any infraction on Government’s part with respect to any agreement which we have signed with the European Union. We can account for every single euro- to the cent- which they have given us.
“That is the hallmark of this administration: prudent, responsible, accountable and transparent with the management of not just our own local resources but also those given to us by foreign countries.”
The Honourable Prime Minister acknowledged that despite its challenges, the European Union remains a steadfast supporter and one of Dominica’s major benefactors with regards to the deployment of assistance.
“They [deserve] the highest commendation and expression for gratitude from all of us because I’m sure that these monies could be spent in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Nouvelle-Calédonie or Greece but they remain committed in the face of adversity. We, in Dominica, must appreciate that.
“Dominica has an extraordinarily strong relationship with the European Union,” he added.
Dominica has had a formal relationship with the European Union formally known as the European Economic Community, since 1979.
It was their entry into the European Economic Community by Britain in 1973 which offered Dominica and other Commonwealth countries in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific the possibility of negotiating their future relations with the EU.
The overall aim of EU cooperation is to improve the quality of life of the populations in the beneficiary countries through targeted and sustainable programmes.
In 2014 the EU delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, disbursed just over €80m in development cooperation aid to 10 countries in the region.
