Prime Minister Keith Mitchell met this morning with European Commission Administrator Flavio Bello to discuss the European Union’s (EU) contribution to Grenada’s School Rehabilitation Programme. Mr. Bello, who has been in Grenada for the past two weeks, is preparing the financial proposal for the use of a $10 million (US) grant. He is also actively developing a joint financing initiative with the World Bank. The Prime Minister welcomed this initiative and recommended that the disbursement of funds is done as quickly as possible, given the conditions under which teachers and students have to function. The EU official is also working with the Ministry of Education to determine which schools will benefit from the funds. Once the details are finalised the new arrangement with the World Bank will result in a more rapid disbursement of funds, Mr. Bello added. The decision by the EU to collaborate with the World Bank on this major initiative is a result of the visit to Grenada by World Bank President James Wolfensohn last month. Mr. Bello indicated that the EU would like to see the Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD) rapidly increase its overall coordination role in the reconstruction process. The ARD was established in October and is responsible for the overall coordination of the reconstruction process. Source: Office of the Prime Minister