Email

Print

Today the Government of Belize along with the Caribbean Development bank launched the Ninth Cycle of the Basic Needs Trust Fund - which is a ten million US dollar tranche of funding for SIF. Launched under the theme, "Partnering Against Poverty" it will be directed those most vulnerable communities which don't have access to basic necessities like schools, water, and electricity. Today, SIF'S Director told us that they want to work with the utility companies:

William Lamb, Executive Director of the Social Investment Fund
"We are launching both the loan from CDB and the ninth cycle grant from CDB."

George Yearwood, Portfolio Manager, Basic Needs Trust Fund In The Social Sector Division at CDB Barbados
"We have targeted at least the BSIF would have targeted the poorest and most vulnerable right and what the fund actually does is to provide basic social economic structure as well as training and enhancement that are most in need."

"We are working in education. We are working in water and sanitation as well as providing basic community access and drainage."

"The loan is 10 million USD and the initial grant under the BTF is 4.5 million dollars, but there is a bonus allocation so based on the performance of the project the BTIF project the government of Belize can get can get an additional portion of the financing."

The Basic Needs Trust Fund has been fighting poverty in Belize since 1979, during which time, the poverty level has steadily grown.