Ambassador Lorne McDonnough, CEO of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), has confirmed that CARICOM Member States will provide US$65,840,931, approximately EC$177,660 million, in new funding for the CDF in its Second Funding Cycle which commences on July 1, 2015.
Speaking following the 26th Regular Meeting of the Board of the CDF, he noted that this amount will be supplemented by US$10.2 million, or EC$27.54 million, of carry-over funds, which will bring to the table US$76.0 or EC$205.24 million for the Second Funding Cycle.
McDonnough, who led the CDF team that negotiated with the Member States Technical Working Group (TWG) made recommendations on the ‘Replenishment of the CDF for the Second Funding Cycle’, which were accepted by the CARICOM Conference of Heads in February.
Trinidad and Tobago, the largest contributor, used the opportunity of the recently concluded 40thMinisterial Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) to confirm its commitment to provide US $40.0 million to the CDF.
At that meeting McDonnough thanked CDF Member States for their support and also noted that both the Governments of Haiti and Montserrat have also expressed their desire to become members of the CDF in the Second Funding Cycle. At the time of accession their contribution will enhance the level of new funding available.