FIFA Finance Committee has approved a fund worth US $1 million to assist in the rebuilding of football in Caribbean countries affected by Hurricane Ivan.
In addition to that, FIFA will provide US $400,000 to assist with the affected FIFA Goal projects (offices, training facilities) as well as a further US $400,000 to assist in the second phase which will see the construction of other relevant facilities.
Warner revealed that the English Football Association has decided to contribute 10,000 pounds towards the rebuilding of the Grenada National Stadium Complex for the hosting of matches at the 2007 Cricket World Cup while the US Soccer Federation has also agreed to give US $15,000.
?All this along with another US $12,000 from Jack Warner goes toward the $5 million fund. I am also in the process of mobilizing other companies from the Caribbean as well as my colleagues in Korea, Japan and South Africa to assist in the rebuilding of the Stadium. All feedback has been positive to this point and I am extremely optimistic that we shall succeed in getting the Stadium ready for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
?The West Indies team gave them the victory to celebrate on the weekend and now we must ensure that these same people experience something similar in 2007,? Warner added at his CONCACAF office, Port of Spain, yesterday.
Warner, who spent last Sunday in Grenada, donated four generators to the Spice Isle on the weekend and is in the process of arranging for another eight generators to be added.
Warner said 12 generators were promised from a local firm ?but you will be surprise to know how some are trying to exploit people based on their own needs and this is wrong.
?Sometimes we only look to see how we can benefit from the losses of others. As of this point, I have arranged to purchase all the generators from a firm in Miami.?
Warner said more basic life supplies will be delivered over this week and FIFA has also approved financial assistance towards this as requested previously.
Meantime, Senator Roy Augustus, who is also the Human Resource Manager at CONCACAF, spent his first week in Grenada, working with Grenadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell and was in several meetings with other Ministers there as well as officials of the National Employment Relief Organization, UNICEF, Heads of Sports Bodies and the Red Cross
Augustus stated that the meeting with UNICEF was centered around using sports, in particular football, to facilitate some schooling for youngsters who are currently out of school.
Augustus assisted in the setting up in the supply and proper distribution of tarpaulins and seedlings for replanting, among other items.
He also advised that Special Works Programmes be designed to get idle youths off the streets and into the clean up programmes.
Augustus noted that too many agencies are involved in the distribution of items without proper coordination.
?The resilience of the Grenadian people is unbelievable and they are bearing up under their troubles with stoicism,? Augustus stated.
