PM Announces Development Projects for Communities

The National Housing Trust (NHT) is to contribute $25 million towards the establishment of a police post in Longville, Clarendon, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, has announced. 

Making her contribution to the 2012/13 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on June 5, Mrs. Simpson Miller said this is part of the Government’s investment in social infrastructure in communities and enhancing community policing.

She also noted that the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), which also has an important role to play in the development of rural and urban communities, will be spending approximately $450 million this fiscal year. 

Africa in Spanish Town, Flanker in Montego Bay, Browns Hall, Homestead and Central Village in St Catherine are some of the communities to benefit from this allocation.

“In addition to that, JSIF will be required to implement projects in excess of $2.7 billion, plus a potential additional $770 million from the Petro Caribe Development Fund,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

Mrs. Simpson Miller said her administration is committed to investing in community development, and informed that she has charged the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and the new Boards of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and the NHT “with the mission of building a Jamaica where people can realise their dreams of a decent life in planned communities."

The Prime Minister noted  that the NHT has already allocated $150 million to the downtown Inner City Housing Programme for implementation by the UDC.

By Alecia Smith-Edwards, JIS Reporter