“We have done some grant programmes in the past and we have sought to learn from those grant programme that we have done in the past, which were almost seen as a free for all in terms of giving money away."
Premier and Minister of Finance Natalio Wheatley says the Virgin Islands Government is preparing to inject at least another $500,000 into its farmers and fishers grant initiative later this year, while insisting that stricter controls are now in place to avoid the problems that plagued previous programmes.
Speaking recently on the initiative, Premier Wheatley disclosed that Government has already approved more than $300,000 in grants under the current programme, with plans to significantly expand assistance in the months ahead.
“We have approved over $300,000 thus far and we want to do more than that for the remainder of the year somewhere in the region of $500,000 or even more if we can manage it,” the Premier stated.
The latest funding push forms part of Government’s broader food security agenda aimed at strengthening local agriculture and fisheries production amid continued concerns over global supply chain disruptions and rising import costs.
According to the Premier, unlike previous grant initiatives, the current programme has been designed with tighter safeguards and monitoring mechanisms to ensure public funds are properly used.
“We have done some grant programmes in the past and we have sought to learn from those grant programme that we have done in the past, which were almost seen as a free for all in terms of giving money away,” Wheatley said.
“So, we have put some more checks and balances in place with this grant programme and we have an actual consistent source of money that will constantly feed this grant programme.”
The Premier explained that the initiative is financed through revenue generated under the Money Services legislation, which channels fees from money transfer transactions into the food security programme.
“So, every time somebody sends some money through Western Union or MoneyGram that is contributing to food security here in the Virgin Islands and that money is being used to finance grants,” he said.
Wheatley stressed that applicants are being carefully vetted before approvals are granted.
“But those requests have to be investigated and examined just to make sure that these are genuine efforts to build their farming businesses and fishing businesses,” he explained.
He further revealed that grant payments are no longer being handed directly to recipients but instead paid to suppliers and vendors as an added accountability measure.
“The grant will be paid directly to the vendors and that’s another mechanism to ensure that we prevent abuse, that we don’t give persons money for one purpose and they use it for another purpose,” the Premier said.
The issue of accountability surrounding farmers and fishers’ grants remains politically charged, following the controversial COVID-19 stimulus programme introduced under the former Andrew Fahie led administration. That programme later became the subject of intense scrutiny by the Auditor General and the Commission of Inquiry after concerns were raised over weak oversight, poor record keeping and the distribution of public funds without adequate controls.
Premier Wheatley acknowledged those past failings and said Government has no intention of returning to what he described as “very loose controls” over public spending.
“If you don’t have the proper controls in place there will be some persons, not everybody, but there’ll be some persons who would want to take advantage of the situation and abuse the process,” Premier Wheatley stated.
Speaking recently on the initiative, Premier Wheatley disclosed that Government has already approved more than $300,000 in grants under the current programme, with plans to significantly expand assistance in the months ahead.
“We have approved over $300,000 thus far and we want to do more than that for the remainder of the year somewhere in the region of $500,000 or even more if we can manage it,” the Premier stated.
The latest funding push forms part of Government’s broader food security agenda aimed at strengthening local agriculture and fisheries production amid continued concerns over global supply chain disruptions and rising import costs.
According to the Premier, unlike previous grant initiatives, the current programme has been designed with tighter safeguards and monitoring mechanisms to ensure public funds are properly used.
“We have done some grant programmes in the past and we have sought to learn from those grant programme that we have done in the past, which were almost seen as a free for all in terms of giving money away,” Wheatley said.
“So, we have put some more checks and balances in place with this grant programme and we have an actual consistent source of money that will constantly feed this grant programme.”
The Premier explained that the initiative is financed through revenue generated under the Money Services legislation, which channels fees from money transfer transactions into the food security programme.
“So, every time somebody sends some money through Western Union or MoneyGram that is contributing to food security here in the Virgin Islands and that money is being used to finance grants,” he said.
Wheatley stressed that applicants are being carefully vetted before approvals are granted.
“But those requests have to be investigated and examined just to make sure that these are genuine efforts to build their farming businesses and fishing businesses,” he explained.
He further revealed that grant payments are no longer being handed directly to recipients but instead paid to suppliers and vendors as an added accountability measure.
“The grant will be paid directly to the vendors and that’s another mechanism to ensure that we prevent abuse, that we don’t give persons money for one purpose and they use it for another purpose,” the Premier said.
The issue of accountability surrounding farmers and fishers’ grants remains politically charged, following the controversial COVID-19 stimulus programme introduced under the former Andrew Fahie led administration. That programme later became the subject of intense scrutiny by the Auditor General and the Commission of Inquiry after concerns were raised over weak oversight, poor record keeping and the distribution of public funds without adequate controls.
Premier Wheatley acknowledged those past failings and said Government has no intention of returning to what he described as “very loose controls” over public spending.
“If you don’t have the proper controls in place there will be some persons, not everybody, but there’ll be some persons who would want to take advantage of the situation and abuse the process,” Premier Wheatley stated.
Community
Comments
Join the conversation
Your comment will appear after review. Your email is optional and will never be shown publicly.