$15 Million for Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative

The city of Montego Bay in St. James, will continue to benefit from the interventions of the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative, for which a further $15 million has been allotted in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure.

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.

This year’s allocation will be used to complete pre-investment studies and implementation of monitoring system. This involves finalisation of the action plan; continuation of pre-feasibility studies and implementation of the recommended interventions; and the establishment of independent monitoring system.

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

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