MONTEGO BAY, St James - In what appeared to be a sharp rebuke of a prominent Jamaican priest, the head of the European Commission Delegation to Jamaica insisted yesterday that financial assistance from Europe "does not come with any strings attached".

ALEMANNI. it is not offered with conditions

"The EU's money is not *lo** money, it's banana money, it's sugar money, it's community money, it's money for the average man," Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni declared, as he signed grant contracts valued at 2.3 million euro under the European Union Banana Support programme, at a ceremony in this north coast resort city.

Using diplomatic speak and not calling names, Alemanni obviously took Roman Catholic Priest Father Richard Holung to task for saying that Jamaica should not accept monetary aid from international agencies if it had conditions, including the legalisation of abortion or homosexuality.

In a passionate presentation last month to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament looking at the legalisation of abortion, Holung, dubbed a ghetto priest for his legendary work among the poor of Kingston's sprawling slums, said:
"There is *lo** money from the European Union and post-modern USA. (They say) 'if you want our millions and billions of dollars you must agree to legalise abortion. If you want our wealth, men and women must be able to be gay, without that you get no money'."

Ambassador Alemanni was adamant, however, that the EU's grants were unconditional except to ensure the well-being of Jamaicans.

HOLUNG. there is *lo** money from the European Union and post-modern USA

"It is not offered with conditions; the only condition is that it be used to enhance the industries and welfare of the Jamaican people," he told the gathering, including government officials, at the Wexford Hotel.

At the same time, he urged the Jamaican Government to create viable alternatives in an effort to minimise the effects of the global financial meltdown.

"In every crisis there is an opportunity and this is the time for Jamaica to find those viable alternatives that will help feed, not just households but new industries that will be developed," he said.

Funds from yesterday's grant signing, a component of the wider Rural Diversification Programme Social and Economic Infrastructure Projects, have been earmarked for the financing of two major projects to be implemented in the parishes of St James, St Mary, St Thomas, Portland, St Catherine and Clarendon. Focus will be placed on social and infrastructural development.

The first project, being launched through the St James Parish Council, will be implemented by the six local authorities and will support communities to develop their economic and social infrastructure, including engineering works, roads and other infrastructure and community groups.

The other project is being undertaken by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund and will focus on the improvement of social infrastructure in early childhood and primary schools, community water supply systems and primary health care facilities.