JERSEY is being asked to triple its overseas aid budget to nearly £16 million over the next seven years.
In an open letter published in today’s Jersey Evening Post, 44 prominent Islanders urge Policy and Resources and Finance and Economics to act in the Island’s best traditions by dramatically increasing the aid budget.
They say Jersey, ranking in the top ten of the world’s wealthiest countries, is in a better position than most jurisdictions to comply with a 30-year-old United Nations target for all countries to commit 0.7 per cent of their GNP to overseas aid.
The president of Christians Together in Jersey, Canon Nicholas France, signed the letter.
He said: ‘Earmarking 0.7 per cent of the Island’s income for aid is a proportionate response to both the unacceptable scale of global poverty and Jersey’s capacity to play an effective part in the eradication of that poverty.
This letter serves as a timely reminder of the importance many thinking people in our community attach to this issue and a clarion call to politicians to keep this in mind.’ The States overseas aid programme began in 1968.
Since 1999 the budget has been pegged to tax revenue and this year’s estimated aid budget is £5.3 million, equivalent to approximately 0.22 per cent of Jersey’s GNP, nearly one third of the international target of 0.7 per cent.
Article posted on 3rd July, 2004 - 12.00am
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