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23.04.18
5 Deputy M.B. Andrews of the Minister for International Development regarding the
democracy of overseas jurisdictions (OQ.58/2023)
What confidence does the Minister have that the countries she deals with are liberal democracies and is it policy that, where there is a change in the political leadership of a country through non- democratic means, no further overseas aid may be provided to that country?
Deputy C.F. Labey of Grouville and St. Martin (The Minister for International
Development):
I thank the Deputy for his question. Almost none of the countries we operate in are liberal democracies by any objective standard. If we can find ourselves to working in countries that adhered only to our own standard of liberal democracy, in a lot of cases we would not be able to assist the millions of people who need help the most. Indeed, in many cases the destabilisation caused by a change in political leadership through non-democratic means can sometimes be a catalyst for a country needing humanitarian support. There is not, therefore, a policy where we would cease to provide aid to a country that is not, by our standard, a liberal democracy. It should be noted, however, that Jersey Overseas Aid, as a government donor, is quite unusual in that it does not provide bilateral assistance to other countries. We also take the Corruption Perceptions Index into account when choosing the countries to support, as well as the Humanitarian Development Index, therefore targeting countries with the greatest need where corruption is lowest. We keep the countries we assist under continual review.
- Deputy M.B. Andrews :
Where there is political instability that comes to fruition, what process is in place that the Minister will follow and also her officers will follow that process too?
Deputy C.F. Labey :
We work with N.G.O.s (non-governmental organisations) and with our due diligence processes that we follow. Obviously they are different if we are dealing with humanitarian disaster and emergency to our sustainable long-terms projects. We have processes in place and I would welcome anyone and the Deputy to come and we can give you a detailed account of the process we go through with the N.G.O.s.
- Deputy R.J. Ward :
It was partly answered, the question. Can I ask the Minister, is it not non-governmental organisations that are funded in the majority and at times with unrest, getting aid to people who are suffering due to their own Government’s failures or unrest, is equally as important as what is happening politically in the country?
Deputy C.F. Labey :
Indeed, and as I have already stated, in many cases it is the destabilisation that causes a catalyst for a country needing emergency humanitarian support.
The Deputy Bailiff :
Yes, final supplementary. Thank you.