Condor was speaking after last weekend’s joint meeting with foreign affairs officials from the Caribbean and the United Kingdom.
The Caribbean officials urged the UK to consider reforming the APD to level the playing field and provide a win-win situation for both regions.
Condor, who co-chaired the two-day forum with United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, William Hague said, the discussions, cantered on economic resilience, climate change and security as well as the UK Air Passenger Duty (APD), which regional officials complain discriminates against the Caribbean
However, according to Mr. Condor, the Caribbean is expected to receive £75 million (US$116.5 million) in development projects from the United Kingdom over four years to help with job-creation, improve security, and combat the threat posed by natural disasters and climate change.
Hague said the funds represent a considerable increase on previous aid budgets, signalling the strong commitment to the region.
“We are one of the few nations in the world that is maintaining its international development commitments at a time of financial difficulty. We will stick to our pledge to raise our aid to 0.7 of GNI (gross national income), and you will find us a reliable partner,” he told participants.
Foreign Secretary Hague said the core task of both regions was to create new opportunities for trade, investment and innovation in their respective economies.
These were some of the developments that came as a result of the Seventh United Kingdom-Caribbean Ministerial Forum which has revitalized the partnership between the two regions as reflected in the 31-point Plan of Action according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Condor.
Jeremy Browne, Minister of State, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office described the two-day political dialogue as fruitful, noting that the Forum provided a framework for continuing activities with the High Commissioners in London.
The forum which was held in Grenada was held under the theme, “Sustainable Growth towards Prosperity.”