Violence Prevention and Sustainable Development Programme gets $124 Million Boost

The Government’s efforts to fight crime and create safer and more peaceful communities through the Jamaica Violence Prevention and Sustainable Development Programme, has been strengthened with a $124.4 million allocation in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives.
The money will go towards the development of crime prevention and community safety strategies, and a safe arms policy; carry out consultancy for the harmonisation and enhancement of armed violence data; and implement consultancies to develop organised crime watch.
It will also provide for the strengthening of the Community Development Committees (CDCs) in Granville, St. James, Jones Town and Trench Town in Kingston; develop a community safety plan in Granville, St. James; and procure the services of a consultant to strengthen the capacity of the Ministries of National Security and Justice, the Social Development Commission, among other bodies.
The project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of National Security, is being funded by the United Nations Development Programme, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Department of International Development.
Started in January 2008, it is designed to “increase the capacity of government and targeted communities to attain a more peaceful, secure and just society.”
Its main objectives include, the completion of a community safety/crime prevention strategy; the development of small arms policy and draft legislation; capacity strengthening of the crime prevention and community safety branch; capacity development of the Ministry’s policy directorate including the crime prevention and community safety unit; strengthening of administrative capabilities of the National Intelligence Bureau in order to improve its delivery service and creating an awareness of the impact of crime and violence in the community.
The programme also aims to provide alternative livelihood opportunities for at-risk youth in Jones Town and Trench Town; improve parenting skills of parents of at-risk youth in Jones Town and Trench Town; expand Jamaica Violence Prevention Peace and Sustainable Development to another community; recruit a Unit Head for the newly established Restorative Justice Unit and continue the operation of the Violence Prevention Community of Practice website.
Among the achievements under the project to date are: the completion of proposals for a new organisational structure for the Jamaica Constabulary Force; a joint UNDP/GOJ study on community security programmes has been completed and is being used as the basis for the new government of Jamaica strategy and the harmonisation of donor programmes; CDCs have been established in Jones Town and Trench Town and community leaders have developed agreed safety plans.
In addition, the Jamaica Partners for Peace has been launched in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, as an online community of practice for government, donor, non-governmental organisations and academic stakeholders to exchange experiences, lessons and best practices; a symposium on how to deal with gangs has been conducted and parenting training and police-community activities were carried out in Jones Town and Trench Town.
The project is expected to continue until December 2010.