Reports reaching Gainako indicated that the European Union has conducted an initial vote to hold back €10 Million Euros from Gambia’s road and infrastructure development fund due to its deteriorating human rights and governing records. The initial development fund of 13 million Euros was ear marked for the Gambia. However, Jammeh’s recent tirade against the EU and his reluctance to comply with the EU 17 point demand is straining relationship with the country’s most important development partner.
Staff at the Gambian Foreign ministry expressed shocked and disappointment over the holding of the development fund. The European Development Fund held a vote on October 30, on giving 13 million Euros to the Gambian government for road construction. However, there was a bitter debate over disbursing the funds to Gambia due to its dismal human rights records and Democracy.
The 10 Million Euros was withheld and members agreed to postpone the next vote until November 21st 2013. Some prominent members voted against the grant due to the worsening human rights situation in the Gambia. The 10 million was reportedly intended for the construction of roads, and if members don’t agree on the funding then it will be retained within the EU budget.
EU has been the biggest donor of development projects for the Gambia and unlike the United States and other countries the EU directly gives its development funds to the Gambia government. President Jammeh recently chastised the EU by calling their development funding as “chicken change”. Foreign Ministry officials are extremely concerned about the development fearing that road constructions may come to a complete halt in the Gambia which will eventually affect employment and the general economy.