PM Commends JSIF’s Scarlette Gillings for Helping to Reduce Poverty

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has commended former Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Mrs. Scarlette Gillings for her contribution to the Government’s efforts to reduce poverty in Jamaica. Delivering the main address at a Farewell Function in honour of Mrs. Gillings on Wednesday (June 17) at the Mona Visitor’s Lodge at the University of the West Indies, the Prime Minister noted that “It is significant when someone spends 30 years working to improve the living conditions of other people. This is what her (Scarlette Gillings) career has been about.”

As JSIF’s Managing Director for 18 years, after its establishment in 1996, Mrs. Gillings directed the Fund’s nationwide Poverty Alleviation Project at a value of some US$177 million, with funding by the Government of Jamaica, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Union, the Caribbean Development Bank and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The JSIF was established in 1996 as a key component of the Government of Jamaica’s national poverty alleviation strategy. As Managing Director, Mrs. Gillings worked as a social policy specialist and project manager primarily in the areas of social development. Jamaica experienced major declines in poverty levels during the period 1989 to 2007.

Highlighting some of Mrs. Gillings’ achievements during her tenure, the Prime Minister said that “under her distinguished leadership, more than 1,600 social and economic infrastructure and organisational strengthening projects were successfully completed, impacting over 1.6 million Jamaicans in 544 communities.” Mrs. Simpson Miller added that through these projects, JSIF contributed directly to the Government’s achievement of local and international social and economic development targets.

She noted that locally, JSIF has helped to attain the outcomes of the National Development Vision particularly as it relates to achieving: a healthy and stable population; world class education and training; effective social protection; safety and security; strong economic infrastructure; internationally competitive industries, among other areas. The Prime Minister said that at the international level, the Fund has helped to position Jamaica to contribute to the Millennium Development Goals of ending extreme poverty and hunger; attaining universal education up to the primary level; improving child and maternal health; and ensuring environmental sustainability.

The Prime Minister also noted that under Mrs. Gillings’ leadership, JSIF has successfully created and nurtured national partnerships involving central and local Government, communities and private and public organisations, to address the pressing needs of communities in a manner that is effective, transparent and non-partisan.

“What a great impact the fund has made under the sterling leadership of Mrs. Gillings. Well done. I salute you Mrs. Gillings, on behalf of the Government and the people of Jamaica,” The Prime Minister said.