(The London Free Press) London wants to share its economic acumen with the Caribbean. City council recently approved a recommendation to be part of the Canada Caribbean Local Economic Development Program, an initiative aimed at helping poorer Caribbean nations.“It’s very important that we, as one of the members of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities that have many types of expertise, that we participate in these programs,” said Coun. Harold Usher.The program is sponsored by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Usher sits on the FCM’s standing committee on international relations.The $23.4-million program is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and is slated to last from 2012 to 2018.As many as 20 Canadian municipalities are to be chosen to be “models of expertise in local economic development.”London, with the London Economic Development Corporation, is already involved in a similar program that is helping Ukraine.“In essence, we are saying we are available if you need us,” Usher said.The Caribbean program is aimed to support almost 50 local governments and agencies. The initial countries to be targeted are Belize, Dominica, Grenada,Cheap MLB Gear, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.Each chosen municipality would be asked to send experts to the countries on two-week missions on various topics highlighting economic growth. Members of the participating countries may also travel to the Canadian communities to see firsthand ideas that could be modelled.Usher,Marlon Humphrey Jersey, who came to Canada about 40 years ago from Belize, said areas of expertise offered could range from business to engineering to social development.“We have the type of knowledge that is needed to help these municipalities and it’s important we offer our services,Cheap NBA Gear,” he said.Usher stressed that any aid London can offer will be made only based on availability of city staff,Cheap Jerseys, LEDC staff and councillors. All participants are volunteers and travel expenses could be paid for by the federation. In addition to the Ukraine project, London has been involved in FCM programs in Cambodia,Cheap Adidas Shoes Online China, Sri Lanka and Haiti.Almost 5,Wholesale Jerseys,000 Londoners are of Caribbean heritage.