$23 Million Allocated to Inner City Basic Services Project

Government will spend $23.8 million this financial year, to make final payments under the Inner City Basic Services project.

Details of this allocation are outlined in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

The initiative, which lasted from May 2006 to December 2013, was implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), with funding from the World Bank.

Its overall objective involved the improvement of the quality of life for residents in 12 inner city communities through the provision of basic urban infrastructure, financial services, land tenure, and enhancement in public safety.

Among the achievements under the project, as at March 2014, were the provision of Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) clinics and guidance counselling services for 31,361 persons, as well as mediation training, mentorship and parenting training for 35,803 persons from specific communities.

The programme also saw new or improved access to water for 3,483 households; improved or new access to sewer networks for 478 households; the construction of five community centres; the approval and disbursement of 373 formal microfinance loans; and rehabilitation of 20.7 kilometres of road, which included improvements of the associated drainage systems as well as additional hydrants installed along these roadways.