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Join in Reviewing the World Bank’s Transparency Policy March 18th, 2009
The World Bank is currently accepting public comments from civil society groups regarding World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information. This public comment period will run from March 13 to May 8, 2009. The World Bank has issued a paper calling for revision of its disclosure policy titled: “TOWARD GREATER TRANSPARENCY: RETHINKING THE WORLD BANK’S DISCLOSURE POLICY.” This is available on the World Bank website. Send your comments via email to Disclosure_Consultations@worldbank.org or post comments on the Bank’s website.
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72 Members of Congress Urge World Bank to Cancel Haiti’s Debt February 27th, 2009
Debt Cancellation Will Help Haiti Avoid National Collapse, Give Fragile Democracy a Chance
A bipartisan group of 72 US Representatives called on World Bank President Robert Zoellick late yesterday to immediately suspend all scheduled debt repayments from Haiti and grant complete debt cancellation to the impoverished nation. Haiti currently sends $1.6 million to the World Bank every month while thousands of Haitians starve and the nation struggles to fill a severe budget gap that threatens the struggling democracy’s stability.
The letter to President Zoellick was circulated by US Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) as well as Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA) and Spencer Bachus (R-AL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee. The Representatives express deep concern about “the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Haiti and the difficulties Haiti has faced in qualifying for the cancellation of its debts.” “We understand that Haiti is scheduled to send approximately $20 million to the World Bank in 2009,” the letter reads, “Clearly, this money would be better spent on basic infrastructure and poverty reduction for the Haitian people.” Signers include 72 US Representatives from across the political spectrum, including Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Donald Payne (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA).
Download a PDF of the letter from Members of Congress to World Bank President Zoellick
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