CASTRIES (CMC):
THE PEOPLE'S Republic of China is to pump another US$500,000 into the St. Lucian economy with the funding of a number of community projects on the island.
This was disclosed by Minister for External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation, Senator Petrus Compton.
Senator Compton, who had just returned from an official visit to China, said the community projects would soon come into effect in various districts around the island.
"The projects were part of a proposal submitted by the Government of St. Lucia for consideration by the People's Republic of China, discussions on which were successfully concluded during my visit to the republic," he said.
"We signed an agreement with the Government of China under which it will contribute US$500,000 to a programme to assist communities, particularly with reference to youth activities and activities in sports," the Foreign Minister stated.
IMPACT ON RURAL CITIZENS
The minister said the projects, which had already been identified, would be primarily administered by the Poverty Reduction Fund and would be used to impact the lives of persons mainly in rural communities.
"They target mostly a lot of multipurpose courts, the resurfacing, the lighting, and fencing of those sporting facilities. In one instance there is a water project for a community to alleviate their water woes while a beautification project and the development of a park in another, has also been suggested," he said.
Sen. Compton said the government was well aware that attention must also be placed on those that bring direct benefits to communities.
The Chinese Government has ploughed several million dollars into the St. Lucia economy with the construction of a Freezone and a National Stadium in Vieux Fort, and has financed several other projects over the past eight years.
Just recently, an agreement was signed between the two countries for China to begin construction of a new and modern psychiatric hospital for St. Lucia that will cost some EC$27 million (US$10 million).
