£5million foreign aid...to boost fishing in the Caribbean! Despair as Cameron says money will help countries 'make the most of their maritime advantages'

Speaking at the Commonwealth Summit in Malta yesterday, David Cameron said he wanted to help the countries 'make the most of their natural maritime advantages'

More than £5million of Britain's soaring aid budget is to go towards improving fishing on Caribbean islands like Barbados.

The 25 'small island' Commonwealth recipients include Bermuda, Jamaica, the Maldives, the Seychelles, and St Lucia plus Trinidad and Tobago.

The £5.6million to be spent next year will help the countries' 'maritime economies' of tourism, shipping and fishing, Downing Street said.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Summit in Malta yesterday, David Cameron said he wanted to help the countries 'make the most of their natural maritime advantages'.

But the announcement raised fresh doubts over whether aid is spent wisely overseas, with Tory critics saying taxpayers 'will despair' at cash being handed to fishermen in the West Indies rather than being spent on priorities in the UK.

The likely island recipients include some of the world's top tourist destinations, many of which already have highly-developed fishing industries.

The Prime Minister unveiled the funds as part of a £26million package.

The rest will go on initiatives to help island countries protect themselves from climate change and there is £15million to fund disaster insurance for Pacific islands to help countries get quick access to funding aid if they suffer a natural catastrophe.

Another £5million will assist poor states with natural disaster prevention plans while around £1million will help raise money for infrastructure

Business 08:12