$321 Million allocated to provide more Housing for Children in State Care

The Government has allocated $321 million for construction and renovation of three juvenile correctional institutions, in line with a commitment given by Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, to improve the facilities in which children in state custody are housed.
The figure is outlined in the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled by the Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, in the House of Representatives on March 25.
Some $174 million will go towards renovation of the Montpelier Youth Camp, in St. James; $100 million for renovations at Cape Clear in St. Mary; and $47 million for works on the Diamond Crest Correctional Centre in St. Elizabeth.
Mr. Golding had said the facilities are to be ready as soon as possible, following the release of the report of the Commission of Enquiry into the fire that led to the deaths of seven girls at the Armadale Juvenile Correctional Centre, Alexandria, St. Ann, on
May 22, 2009.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Security has also been allocated $350 million for construction and rehabilitative works on select police stations and the Police Academy at Twickenham Park, St. Catherine.
Some $200 million is to be spent renovating police stations, while $150 million will be used to carry out construction works at the Police Academy.
In addition, the Ministry is slated to spend $10 million for equity contribution to the Correctional Services Production Company (COSPROD), to assist with the continuation of its projects at Tamarind Farm in St. Catherine; Richmond Farm in St. Mary and Brickyard, which is an extension of the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston.
The provision will finance the administrative costs and requirements for undertaking agricultural woodwork, welding, brick making and other activities.