$25 Million Allocated for Mo-Bay’s Urban Action Plan

A sum of $25 million has been set aside in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure for the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative.

The project seeks to contribute to the implementation of Montego Bay’s urban sustainability action plan, in which the general goal is to address the main environmental, urban and fiscal issues affecting the long term sustainability of the city.

Up to March 2014 under the project, a draft action plan was developed; an analysis and diagnostic assessment for prioritised interventions was conducted; a public opinion survey was done; and a greenhouse gas workshop and other supporting workshops were convened.

It is anticipated that for this fiscal year, the action plan will be finalised; and prefeasibility studies of investment projects in the area of environment and climate change or urban planning  are to continue and the recommended interventions implemented.

In addition, an independent monitoring system is to be established; and activities are to be co-ordinated for the implementation of the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiatives (ESCI) Methodology.

The project, which is slated to last from September, 2013 to September, 2015, is being implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).