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World Bank Approves Additional Financing For Telecommunications Development In Eastern Caribbean

Tahseen Sayed is the World Bank's Country Director for the Caribbean.

World Bank Approves Additional Financing For Telecommunications Development In Eastern Caribbean

WASHINGTON, District of Columbia March 27, 2020 (CMC) – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, yesterday, approved additional financing, of US$11.9 million, for the Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (CARCIP), underway in Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Washington-based financial institution said this financing will allow for the completion of the regional broadband network, as well as training activities, business incubation loans and implementation support.

The program has established undersea cables, connecting the three countries, and is rolling out terrestrial fiber optics, the Bank said.

It disclosed that more than half of the office buildings, in all three islands, have been connected to the internet, and over half of schools are connected, in two of the countries.

With this additional financing, the World Bank said schools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be connected to internet services.

It noted that key results include increasing access to regional broadband networks and helping develop an Information and Communications Technology (ICT)-enabled services industry.

“Development of digital technology is essential for local, national, regional and global connectivity, and it is especially important for the small states in the Eastern Caribbean,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean.

“Affordable and good quality high-speed internet is critical and plays a central role in connecting people, creating efficiency in public and private services, enhancing productivity and increasing countries’ capabilities to manage natural disasters and crises.”

The World Bank said the program was developed as part of the Caribbean region ICT strategy – the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Digital Agenda 2025 – which was designed to address the challenges of a fragmented market and uneven distribution of resources in this sector.

The ongoing CARCIP program provided financing in the amount of US$25 million, the Bank said.

Of the US$11.9 million approved on Thursday, it reported that US$3 million will go to Grenada, US$4.1 million to St. Lucia, and US$4.8 million to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The World Bank said these additional funds will cover financing gaps, including cost increases in infrastructure construction and training activities.

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