THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs here yesterday announced that the United States Department of Justice has published an Interim Final Rule regarding the administration of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.

In a statement, it said the Fund sets out procedures by which those injured and representatives of persons killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States of America can apply for compensation.

Under the Interim Final Rule, eligible claimants can receive immediate/immediate advance benefit payments of US$50,000 in cases involving death and US$25,000 in certain cases involving injury, it said.

Individual victims who suffered physical harm as a result of the September 11 attacks or the representatives of deceased victims will be eligible to apply for compensation for economic loss, including physical and emotional pain, suffering and physical impairment.

The Civil Division of the Department of Justice, which has responsibility for administering the new compensation programme, has posted detailed information about the Interim Rule at the Department of Justice's website http://www.nsdoj.gov/.

Family members of victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks are asked to take note of the procedures outlined in the Interim Rule.

The interim regulation remains in place until further notice.

The Department of Justice is also soliciting views from interested parties on how the new compensation programme should be structured, the ministry said.

Interested parties have until January 21, 2002 to submit comments to:

Kenneth L. Zurick
Director of Office Management Programmes, Civil Division
US Department of Justice

PERIO
Room 3140, Main Building
950 Pennsylrama., NW
Washington, DC 20530 USA.
Or at victimcomp.Comments@usdoj.Gov.
Or by fax at 301-519-5956.

The above information has been provided by the United States Government in the interest of Guyanese citizens, whose families have been affected by the September 11, 2001, tragedy.