WHERE is the US $20 million granted to Trinidad and Tobago by the World Bank to fight Covid-19?
Why didn’t Finance Minister Colm Imbert account for this funding in his recent Budget presentation?
These questions are being posed by knowledgeable financial experts, who say that Imbert must report on the use to which the grant was put.
There were two purposes of the financial gift, titled World Bank Development Health Project.
One function was to “provide immediate support to respond to Covid-19 pandemic through the procurement of key medical equipment and supplies.”
According to the World Bank, that means “strengthening case treatment sub-component.”
The money was earmarked for “providing essential equipment for disinfection and sterilisation procedures,” in addition to “key health care delivery inputs,” staff training, medicines, and vaccines, and equipment and training.
The other purpose was financing “recurrent operational costs” of strengthening the Project Implementation Unit.
The experts insist that Imbert, or Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, must account to the nation on the US $20 million grant.
