Guyana set for $16b in grant funding from UK

Guyana is set to benefit from £ 53.2 million (around $16b) in grant resources from the United Kingdom under its newly established United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF), a release from the Ministry of Finance said today.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan along with Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson and Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan last week met with British High Commissioner Greg Quinn and representatives of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Department for International Fund (DFID) to discuss Guyana’s proposed infrastructural projects that are to be funded by UKCIF, the release said.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced the launch of the £300M Fund during his trip to Jamaica in 2015.

As a result, Guyana has identified and submitted project proposals for six major infrastructure development programmes.

The interventions will see improved road networks, bridges, stellings and waterfronts, rehabilitation of airstrips, reliable access to potable water and reduced energy costs among others, the release said.

The CDB has been designated by the UK government to design, develop and implement the programme in collaboration with the Government of Guyana.

From left are Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn and other other officials. (Ministry of Finance photo)
From left are Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn and other other officials. (Ministry of Finance photo)