House Approves Withdrawal of Money for Phase 8 of Bauxite Community Development Programme

The House of Representatives has approved the withdrawal of $400 million from the Capital Development Fund for use in the implementation of phase 8 of the Bauxite Community Development Programme, during the 2025-2028 period.

The Bauxite (Production Levy) (Capital Development Fund Withdrawal) Order, 2025, Resolution was approved on November 11 to bring this into effect.

In her remarks, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, said the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), was established by the Government in 1975 as a regulatory planning and development agency to manage the sovereign aspects of the Government’s participation in the bauxite alumina industry.

She informed that the Bauxite Company Development Programme was established in October 1996, with a mandate to promote long-term sustainable developments in communities affected by bauxite mining and alumina operations.

“Under the programme, funding is provided for projects to generate the employment and improve the social and physical infrastructure of communities. The programme is administered by the JBI under the guidance of a steering committee comprising representatives of the JBI and portfolio Ministry, with each phase having a duration of between two and three years,” Mrs. Williams said.

The Minister noted that the Capital Development Fund currently has sufficient resources to facilitate the withdrawal of $400 million during the 2025/26 financial year.

“At July 31, 2025, the JBI reported a total of $13.1 million being held for the Bauxite Community Development Programme following implementation of Phase 7 of the programme,” she stated.

The Bauxite Community Development Programme undertook 23 projects in Manchester, St. Ann, St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine, Clarendon and generally across all bauxite parishes at a total cost of $110.4 million during the 2024/25 financial year.

Additionally, five projects were undertaken at a cost of $28.93 million, to date, during the 2025/26 financial year.

“The requested support of $400 million from the Capital Development Fund is, therefore, necessary to allow the JBI to finance the implementation of Phase 8 of the Bauxite Community Development Programme. These activities are geared towards strengthening livelihoods, enhancing community infrastructure and supporting socio-economic development across the bauxite parishes,” Mrs. Williams stated.