Project to Enhance Disaster and Climate Resilience Gets $221 Million

Just over $221 million has been budgeted to undertake activities to enhance Jamaica’s resilience to disasters and climate risks.

The activities will be done under the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project in the Office of the Prime Minister.

It is being implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) through funding from the Government of Jamaica and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The details are contained in the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure, which was recently tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke.

The funds allocated will be used to commence coastal protection works in Annotto Bay, complete a National Risk Information Platform and Micro-zonation study, and observe defects period on the Big Pond/Myton Gully Drain.

Up to December 2023, the project had several achievements, including completing infrastructure works and equipping the Seismic Unit at the University of the West Indies (UWI) as well as completing civil works on two box culverts at Church Pen.

Additionally, two water trucks were procured for the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), the revised Jamaica Fire Code (JFC) and Jamaica Building Code were completed, and training conducted on the new building codes.

Furthermore, construction of the Montego Bay, Yallahs and Port Maria fire stations was completed; and the Port Royal Street coastal protection works were also done.