Project to Phase out Ozone Depleting Substances gets $3.2 Million

The Ministry of Local Government and Environment will be expending some $3.2 million this fiscal year, towards its project for the phasing out of ozone depleting substances.
The allocation, which is made available in the 2006/07 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representative, will be used to fund the ongoing public awareness programmes on ozone depleting substances (ODS); submit the 2005 ODS import data to the multilateral fund and ozone secretariats; as well as the promulgation of the Preservation of the Ozone Layer Act; and the implementation of the technical assistance project to phase out the use of methyl bromide in Jamaica.
In the meantime, significant outputs have been realized under the programme, which was initiated in 1997.
Up to March 2006, Jamaica’s Refrigerant Management Plan was completed and Ministerial Orders for the effective phase out of ODS developed. In addition, the final draft of the preservation of the Ozone Layer Act was developed; the importation of halon-based equipment was banned, and the terminal phase out management plan for chlorofluorocarbons implemented.
The project is being funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the government of Jamaica.