Turks and Caicos, September 15, 2017 – Providenciales – Uk Ministers are now frantically trying to change the rules that prevent Britain from spending its aid budget to help the UK territories hit by Hurricane Irma.
International Development Secretary Priti Patel fired off a letter to the global body which ruled that the UK cannot use its aid cash because the three overseas territories of Anguilla, Turks and Caicos and The British Virgin Islands are deemed “too wealthy”.
She wrote to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to demand reforms to change the rule.
“We believe that the international rules should take into account the vulnerabilities of small island states. These rules were first established over 40 years ago. The world has changed dramatically since then, and we will work constructively with international partners to ensure the rules remain relevant and up to date.” her letter stated.
But other ministers said she should go ahead anyway and use the aid budget to help the victims of Irma even if that means breaking the law.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who has just returned from a trip to see the devastation in the Caribbean, told a press conference it was ‘natural’ that the money should be used to help those affected. Johnson also said Whitehall (the British Civil Service) was working furiously to get the rules changed.
The UK has pledged £57million towards disaster relief in the British territories and the public has helped to raise around £1.3million so far.
