On Thursday January 25th a workshop facilitated by Noelle Debique of the Caribbean Development Bank, who is a gender specialist attached to the BNTF programme, was held at the Service Commissions conference room.

Delivering remarks at the opening of the function was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Transformation Shirla Francis. She noted that the aim is to have members of the steering committee of the BNTF better equipped to make informed decisions on projects.

The project's steering committee is comprised of representatives from several Government Ministries namely the Minsitry of Finance, the Ministry of National Mobilization, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transport and the BNTF's Parent Ministry, the Ministry of Rural Transformation.

The BNTF#5 programme is of ten years duration and was commenced in 2003. It's main objective is reducing the vulnerability of people living in poor communities in a sustainable and gender sensitive manner. Accordingly programmes that promote broad based growth are financed by the BNTF# 5. These include programmes in road construction, education, health and water oprojects, community markets and day care centers.

Minister of Rural Transformation Hon. Selmon Walters in addressing the opening ceremony pointed out that government's programme for the development of the country rests on two pillars, education for all and the eradication of poverty. He noted that the placement of the BNTF within the Ministry of Rural Transformation is no accident but is a deliberate policy by government to target rural communities that had a reduction in income due to the decline of the banana industry. He added that his Ministry and the BNTF will form a good team in bringing back into rural districts various forms of economic viability.

The Basic Needs Trust Funds number five programme in funded by the Caribbean Development Bank to the tune of over 12 million dollars.