DFID on Island
15 January 2010
The team from the Department For International Development arrived today, 14 January to enter into discussions with Councillors and officials from the St Helena Government.
Overall discussions are to focus on the funding St Helena has requested in order to deliver services and take forward initiatives in some key areas such as infrastructure and tourism over the next three years.
There will also be discussion on progress the Island has made to date and plans the Island has for the future. The team has a full programme of meetings to attend between now and 20 January when they are due to leave the Island.
Much of their time will be dedicated to meetings with the newly formed Council Committees, i.e. the Finance and Economy Committee, the Civil Society, Tourism and Leisure Committee, the Infrastructure and Utilities Committee, the Health and Social Welfare Committee, the Access and Transport Committee, the Education and Employment Committee, the Natural Resources, Development and Environment Committee and the Home and International Committee.
In addition, the team is meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and the St Helena Development Agency Board because of their interest in private sector development.
The visit is to conclude with the signing of an aide memoire by Governor Gurr on behalf of the St Helena Government and Malcolm Geere on behalf of the Department for International Development. This will set out the key issues discussed although the document will need formal approval from both the Executive Council on St Helena and DFID Ministers.
Members of the team include Malcolm Geere, Head of the Overseas Territories Department in DFID; Richard Haviland, Programme Manager for the South Atlantic; Eddie Palmer, DFID Representative; Caterina Alari, Governance Advisor; Garth Armstrong, Economic Advisor; and Anna Miles, Social Development Advisor.
Public Relations/Information Office, Office of the Chief Secretary, 14 January 2010