Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
I read the other day that as Britain considers reducing it spending on defence India has just ordered a new nuclear warship costing 2 billion pounds...we gave them £800m this year in overseas aid..do they need our aid cash if they can afford to fritter away £2b on a never to be used nuclear warship...it beggars belief and theres more (to use Jimmy Crickets punchline) the £250 million we recently gave to Sierra Leonne has all but vanished into thin air.
Most forumites will know me as a labourite, a leftie or even a loony but this aid was hopefully awarded in order to improve the "lot" of the poor by providing food education and health care together with improvements in the countrys infra-structure and was not gifted so that corrupt govt officials and bent UK contractors can line their own pockets.
Its time for a "Torygraph" expose of where our overseas aid money is going and what its being spent on.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Marek - we often shoot from the same side of the political divide, and I can only agree with you. I have no probelm with foreign aid, actively encourage it, but ther accountability is not there.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I understood that there are ways where our overseas aid can go direct to those who need it, or the organisations in those countries and they administer it for those very needy people;.
I didn't know we still hand over millions of pounds to corrupt governments - mostly African ones and it's mostly the poor Africans who need help the most; I thought we by-passed these Govenments, so it wouldn't end up in their hands - seems not then.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
l always thought that overseas aid was just a way of getting our exporters into the recipient country's market.
the thought if it helping poorer people is rather fanciful.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
Marek
Think we are all on the same side on this one, must be more accountability, no signs of that at the mo
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
if this country invested as much money into this country as they do in forigen aid,this country would be a lot better of.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
Brian
They do, and foriegn aid is not a prob as long as they have accountability
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
kieth,there are one or two countrys that take the micky in tacking this money,the things it suposed to go on never sees a penny.
Accountability..........................
Guest 688- Registered: 16 Jul 2009
- Posts: 268
I think you have to decide If foreign aid comes from a post Imperial guilt complex or of more Interest, the conceit of the need to still use Imperial projection as a geo-political tool.
Off at a tangent ,most of the aid granted Is dispersed by N.G.O.s or non-governmental agencies which to many suggest In one form or another covert operations with In the various countries.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
should we start telling third world nations what do with money given to them, it would take us back to the colonial days.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
They'd be run better if we did Howard and the ordinary African would be better off too - in every way.
The money given should never go to the Governments, but to people/organisations who will implement the improvements.
Almost the whole of Africa is run now as it was prior to the white-man going there - on tribal and Chieftain methods.
In the West, the Leader is there to serve the people; in Africa, the people are there to serve the Chief/Leader/President, whatever they want to call themselves, its the same thing.
For things to change for the better, the mentality has to change, if it doesn't we'll be pumping our hard-earned money into them for centuries to come, but the whole point of overseas aid, is to help make a (positive) difference to the people, not those corrupt at the top - the chiefs.
Roger
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
Roger
I understand where your coming from but we also need to make sure any building companies etc are also accountable
Accountability should be number 1
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
try telling that to the zinbarbian people kieth.you cant survive on acountabilaty not these days.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
Brian
thats where your wrong, we need to make sure as Roger says that the dosh goes to people and we know exactly where every penny is being spent, how many will benefit, and also check it is completed
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
we have no power to tell a sovereign nation what to do with any money that they have.
we will not stop giving aid dosh because uk companies would not get any contracts in most third world countries.
in some richer countries, sweeteners have to be given to smooth things through.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Your argument only applies when money is given to governments Howard.
Some international charities will build a well, or set up irrigation systems, build schools and hospitals and all they need is permission to do this, they don't have to give all the money to the relevant (corrupt) government.
Overseas-aid money should go to help building community infrastructure, not bank accounts in Switzerland.
Roger
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
Roger
I partly agree with you, but even some so called charities as Howard has ponted out in the past dont exist to send money abroad, but they keep it, or only a small part reaches the country its supposed to.
Maybe its time for Govt aid abroad to also be looked at, if its not accountable shold we send it?
just because its never been checked before isn't an exciuse to correct it
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
roger
the problem is that if we do not give this aid direct to goverments, it will result in loss of jobs here in the uk.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I don't believe that is the case in the majority of over-seas aid contributions Howard.
Roger