International Sector. Grenada. Regional Disaster and Vulnerability Risk Reduction Project (RDVRP)

http://www.grenadaembassyusa.org/embassy-news/minister-burke-signs-single-largest-world-bank-project-ever-approved-for-grenada/#more-1624

Minister Burke Signs Single Largest World Bank Project Ever Approved for Grenada

posted by | EMBASSY STAFF · Sep 20

Embassy of Grenada, Washington, DC, September, 20, 2011: Grenada’s Finance Minister Nazim Burke today signed three groundbreaking agreements with the World Bank:

1. Regional Disaster and Vulnerability Risk Reduction Project (RDVRP) – US$26.2 million
2. Safety Nets Assistance Programme (SNAP) – US$5 million
3. Eastern Caribbean Energy Regulatory Authority (ECERA) – US$2.8 million

Left to right: Min. Burke & Country Director Clottes

Among key infrastructure rehabilitation projects, the first agreement, the RDVRP the will cover the replacement of two bridges in Gouyave; refurbishment of Holy Cross R.C. School and St. Patrick’s Anglican School, and two homes for the elderly, the Cadrona Home for the Aged and the Hills View Home for the Aged. This is the largest single project ever approved by the World Bank for Grenada and includes a US$8 million grant under a special fund, the PPCR.

The Safety Nets Assistance Programme (SNAP) will ensure that the most vulnerable persons benefit from the Government’s safety net programmes, especially the Public Assistance, the Necessitous Fund and the Transportation Allowance for students.

The ECERA project is aimed at lowering electricity prices and attracting investments in the energy sector, through the establishment of a regional energy regulator to be known as the Eastern Caribbean Energy Regulatory Authority.

The signings took place in Washington DC where the Minister is attending the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank.

Ms. Francoise Clottes, Country Director for the Caribbean signed on behalf of the World Bank.  She noted that because of Grenada’s proactive engagement, Grenada is the first country in the Caribbean to receive a grant under the PPCR pilot project on climate change. The Director praised Grenada’s initiative and persistence in effectively leveraging Bank resources to attract grants.

On signing the agreements, Minister Burke welcomed the increased cooperation between the Government of Grenada and the World Bank Group and expressed the Government’s intention to pursue additional agreements which would contribute further to socio-economic development and poverty reduction.

These three projects presented by Prime Minister Tillman Thomas as part of the Government’s programme of major projects to be implemented over the next 2 years.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by other members of Grenada’s delegation including Mr. Timothy Antoine, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Her Excellency Gillian Bristol, Grenada’s Ambassador to the United States and Mr. Christopher De Riggs, Director, Office of Private Sector Development.

filed in | Embassy News

Community Participation. Disaster Planning

http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/New_York/News/2011/09_-_September/NYC_disaster_plan_ignores_disabled_people__suit/

NYC disaster plan ignores disabled people: suit

9/26/2011

NEW YORK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Disability-rights advocates on Monday accused New York City of failing to account for the unique needs of its nearly 900,000 disabled residents during disasters like Hurricane Irene and the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The proposed class-action lawsuit, filed Monday in Manhattan federal court, contended that the city is violating federal and state anti-discrimination laws by failing to make emergency plans, shelters, announcements and transportation fully accessible to individuals with physical disabilities.

The suit was brought by the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York, and Tania Morales, a Brooklyn resident who uses a wheelchair. Morales was one of more than 250,000 New Yorkers asked to evacuate from low-lying areas during Hurricane Irene.

Morales said she arrived at a designated emergency shelter to find the gates leading to the wheelchair ramp were locked. Volunteers at the shelter tried to track down the keys, but after 10 minutes Morales returned home, saying she was afraid to wait any longer on the sidewalk and had no way to get to another shelter.

"It's an absolute disgrace that a decade after the September 11th terrorist attack, there is still an absence of planning for our most vulnerable citizens," Julia Pinover, an attorney with Disability Rights Advocates representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement.

The plaintiffs are seeking a court order forcing the city to revamp its emergency preparation plan to account for disabled individuals' needs, including accessible transportation, shelter, communication, notification and assistance during disaster recovery.

CITY REBUFFS CLAIMS

During the hurricane evacuations, roughly 75 percent of designated emergency shelters were not fully accessible to wheelchair users, and evacuation announcements and directions were not provided in a format usable by individuals with vision or hearing impairments, the complaint said.

A spokeswoman for the New York City Law Department rebuffed the plaintiffs' allegations.

"Once the evacuation order was issued, the City aggressively communicated the locations of the evacuation centers and also specifically targeted service providers who work with people with special needs," said Kate O'Brien Ahlers.

Everyone who called the city seeking assistance in getting to a shelter was helped, she added, and the city deployed a special fleet of vehicles to assist the disabled.

The case is Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled et al v. Mayor Michael Bloomberg et al, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, no. 11-6690.

For the plaintiffs: Sid Wolinsky, Mary-Lee Smith and Julia Pinover of Disability Rights Advocates.
(Reporting by Jessica Dye)