Project to reduce crime in volatile communities receives $830 million

KINGSTON — Efforts by the Government to reduce crime and violence in 39 volatile and vulnerable communities have been bolstered with an allocation of $830 million, to finance prevention and strategic interventions that will address identified individual, family and community risk factors.

This initiative, which is being implemented by the Ministry of National Security, with funding from the Government, Department for International Development, and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), falls under the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) II.         

As outlined in the 2011/12 Estimates of Expenditure, for this fiscal year, it is intended that the Integrated Management System will continue to be implemented and consultancy services to develop safety plans for eight communities are to be procured. Vocational skills training programmes are to be designed and delivered to approximately 2,000 at-risk persons; and violence prevention services delivered to approximately 2,250 residents by Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Further, for the 2011/12 period, the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies (DCFS) is to develop and implement training programmes for 12 Community Action Committees; Rapid Impact Projects are to be implemented in three communities (one per community); and tuition support provided to approximately 3,000 needy students.

Other targets for the period are to: create safe community spaces in three communities; provide furniture and equipment for community centre in Russia (Savanna-La-Mar, Westmoreland), being constructed by the Jamaica National Building Society; and provide employment internship for approximately 65 at-risk persons.

Up to December, 2010, under the programme, skills training and educational services had been provided to residents in 27 communities in the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) and the western region; violence prevention services had been facilitated through Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to approximately 3,500 persons; and tuition support provided to 1,500 students in 27 communities in the KMA and the western region.

Other achievements realised under the project so far include: the participation of 40 persons in an Employment Internship Programme; 330 persons benefited from the Education Enrichment Programme for adults and young persons; and three life skill/football clinics were held in collaboration with the Toronto Police Force, benefiting 300 at-risk youth.

Additionally, a Records Management System (RMS) and a Traffic Ticketing System (TTS) have been implemented.

The programme, which began in December 2009, is scheduled to end in December, 2013.

By ALECIA SMITH, JIS Reporter