Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Douglas yesterday called on the corporate sector to do more to assist groups for Emancipation celebrations. He said Government was assisting the Emancipation Support Committee with $3 million in funding for the celebrations which begin today and ends on the August 1 Emancipation holiday. The committee also received an additional $2 million from the Office of the Prime Minister Sports and Cultural Fund.
Douglas said the National Action Cultural Committee also received $1 million for emancipation activities. Some 48 other groups also received assistance with over $300,000. He said the funding was a percentage of what was requested and if the Government had given the full amount sought it would have amounted to about $25 million. Calling on the corporate sector to do more to assist emancipation groups, he said:
“Most of the groups come to us and say they have asked corporate T&T and they don’t get involved at all and it’s deplorable in a country like ours where organisations are making lots and lots of money and will not exercise due corporate responsibility and will not support, especially these NGOS and civil society, which make such a contribution to the development and education of T&T’s communities.” He said careful evaluation of organisations had to be made in giving government funding.