Prime Minister Gaston Browne says he will personally follow up with donors to ensure financial pledges made during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting translate into funding.

Speaking at the summit’s closing press briefing in Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday, Browne said he was prepared to press contributors for payment as the Commonwealth begins implementing its commitments.

“In fact, I may serve as a de facto implementation czar,” he said.

Browne cited a promised US$20 million contribution, saying he would intervene if the first US$10 million instalment did not arrive within the donor’s indicated timeframe.

“If the distinguished secretary-general is too shy to ask him, I will message him and ask him, ‘Where’s the money?’” Browne said.

The remark followed a question to Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey about how the organisation would measure whether commitments made at the summit produced actual progress.

Botchwey said follow-up work would include securing pledged funds and helping countries turn new partnerships into practical benefits.

She announced plans for a meeting next year bringing together trade and finance ministers, heads of investment agencies and business leaders to examine barriers to trade and promote investment.

“We need to look at what the barriers are to trade and how we can remove those barriers,” she said.

Botchwey said the Secretariat would also work towards realising financial pledges so that funds could reach countries and support the objectives agreed at the summit.

Among the initiatives discussed was the proposed Commonwealth Aspiration Fund, intended to support skills development and entrepreneurship among young people. She made clear that funding would be needed to put those ambitions into practice.

Earlier in the briefing, Botchwey announced US$500 million in new commitments from investors, partners and wealthy individuals. She also said investors and development partners had discussed projects worth US$52 billion from 28 Commonwealth countries.

The project total represented proposals presented for investment, rather than financing already secured.

Browne said Antigua and Barbuda’s benefits from hosting CHOGM would emerge largely after the summit, through funding opportunities, stronger partnerships and continued cooperation.

As Antigua and Barbuda takes up the Commonwealth chairmanship, he pledged a strong implementation programme to help ensure those promises are fulfilled.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: PM Gaston Browne pledges to chase donors to deliver CHOGM promises.