Roadtown, Tortola - Two Government employees will receive training at the European Union’s National Authorising Office in Dominica this week.

Assistant Secretary in the Premier’s Office with responsibility for projects, Mrs. Elvia Smith-Maduro and Budget Officer in the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Trecia Thomas- Maduro left the Territory this morning to attend the training sessions which will be conducted from Wednesday to Friday.

The training comes ahead of the start of work on Culinary Arts Centre at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.

Prior to her departure, Mrs. Smith-Maduro told the Department of Information and Public Relations “this training bears particular significance for the Territory as we prepare for the start of work on the Culinary Arts Centre. This is a major project and we are fortunate to have significant funding coming from the European Union so it is important that we as project officers are knowledgeable about the EU procedures we will have to follow for the duration of the project,” she stated.

The Assistant Secretary in the Premier’s Office said the training was recommended by the Delegation of the European Commission’s Office in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, which is the office through which the Territory communicates with the EU.

“The EU has very specific requirements for projects it helps to finance and it is important that Government does not jeopardise the funding by not following the correct procedures, so this training as you would imagine is quite essential for the success of the project,” she added.

On June 29, Government signed a contract worth $179,360 with Roger Downing and Partner Company Limited for the architectural design and inspection of construction of the Culinary Arts Centre.

The drawings have since been completed and have been submitted to the Planning Authority for development approval. Construction of the facility should begin early next year.

The Culinary Arts Centre is co-funded by the European Union which is providing $1.53 million towards the project with Government contributing $1 million. It is expected to serve as a regional training facility.