Civil societies have a critical role to play as they have the ability to provide avenues for interaction between the grassroots level, the public and the private sector.Planning Minister Bhoe Tewarie said so at yesterday's news conference on the disbursement of European Union funds for six civil society organisations who each received �10,000 or TT $80,000.
Tewarie said the grants were intended for stakeholders to engage in projects that were consistent with economic transformation and good and effective governance.Government, he added, understood the entrepreneurial development and building upon the "native genius" of people played an integral role for successful diversification of the economy.
Tewarie said civil society however, needed the updating and acquisition of new skills and competencies and the utilisation of new communication models as well as strong networks and more effective methods of co-operation.
That, the minister added, could lead to new technical and funding opportunities from private and international sources.Programme officer of the European Union Monica Paul-McClean said over the last five years the EU's funding for T&T has surpassed �100 in grant funds."Over the past three years, the European Union Delegation in T&T has provided over TT$1.3 million in direct assistance to civil society organisations in areas such as governance, human rights, environment, diversification and crime and society," McClean added.She said despite the level of funds disbursed to support groups it was a fact that resources and information to expand were lacking.