[2002/2003 Jamaica Budget Memorandum]
Review of Selected Projects |
The Government
of Jamaica, with the support of Multilateral and Bilateral Lending Agencies, remains fully
committed to the drive to foster economic development and to alleviate poverty. The
various projects undertaken over the course of FY2001/02 speak to this commitment and this
chapter highlights selected projects from the Social, Agricultural and Infrastructure
Sectors.
SOCIAL SECTOR
EDUCATION
Enhancement of Basic Schools
As part of its drive to improve the standard of education, the
Government has broadened its scope to include early childhood education among the
educational levels addressed by Government. To this end an agreement was signed with the
Caribbean Development Bank to finance the Enhancement of Basic Schools Project. This
project is expected to optimize the development of young children.
Work is expected to commence this year on the renovation of three
Practising and Basic Schools and on the construction of three new Basic Schools. The
training of Basic School Teachers will also commence.
Primary Education Support Programme
The aim of this project is to improve the performance and efficiency of
the primary education system through implementation of the Revised Primary Curriculum and
National Assessment Standards in all Primary Schools.
To date, 3,800 principals and teachers have been trained to deliver the
Revised Primary Curriculum (RPC) at Grades 1 through 4.
In FY2002/03, preparation of materials and training of teachers in the
use of the RPC at the Grades 5 and 6 island-wide will be completed. A Public Relations
Programme will be launched. Activities in Information Technology will also commence in
pilot schools along with the Programme of Literacy – Intervention and School Based
Management activities.
HEALTH
HIV/AIDS Management Prevention and Control Programme
The main objectives of this project are:
To curb the spread of HIV;
To improve the treatment, care and support of victims;
To strengthen the country’s capacity to deal with the epidemic.
These objectives will be accomplished through improvements in the turn
around time for HIV tests, conducting outreach programmes, educating the public, and
improving the availability of hospices and halfway care services.
It is anticipated that 50% of work on the rehabilitation of health
facilities and Government labs will be completed in FY2002/03. Work programmes will also
be implemented for behaviour change, communication, treatment, care and support.
SOCIAL SAFETY NET
This project has been designed to support the Government’s effort
in its social assistance for the extreme poor and vulnerable of the society.
Implementation of the programme began in the latter half of FY2001/02
with a pilot project in St. Catherine, which targets 16,000 families.
Completion of the pilot project is scheduled for August 2002 after
which island wide implementation of the programme will begin.
The programme has among its objectives to protect components of basic
health, education, and safety net spending during a period of strong fiscal adjustment,
and will merge, restructure, and better target the country’s social safety net
programmes.
The initial phase of the programme will be complete during the present
financial year. The institutional strengthening and other components of the programme will
be completed by December 31 2005.
JAMAICA SOCIAL INVESTMENT FUND
The primary goal of this project is to contribute to improving the
living standards of the poor and vulnerable, through increasing access to vital social
services and facilities, thereby creating an environment for sustainable national
development.
To date, this project has been a success. Living standards and working
conditions in targeted areas have improved significantly. A total of 408 projects have
been approved at a cost of $1,512mn. It is anticipated that in FY2002/03 another 136
sub-projects will be identified at an average cost of $2.9mn. Seventy (70) of these
sub-projects will be contracted by June 2002.
AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Support Services
Increased emphasis will be placed on revitalizing the Agricultural
Sector. It is envisaged that the Agricultural Support Services project will serve to
enhance the quality and delivery of support services in marketing and research. There will
also be upgrading of existing systems for safeguarding animal and plant health and the
implementation of selected productive projects in order to stimulate agribusiness
development in rural areas.
Agribusiness research officers have been recruited and specifications
developed to upgrade facilities at Bodles. Preparations have been made to purchase
equipment for Orange River and Montpelier research stations.
Work to be undertaken in FY2002/03 include:
Improvement in the Support Services delivery system;
Expansion of the Animal Health policy.
Implementation of the public awareness campaign;
Refurbishing of facilities;
Implementation of eight (8) productive projects.
Citrus Replanting
This project became operational in January 2001 and will span a
five-year period. Its major objective is to prevent the total decline of the citrus
industry through public education, improved research techniques and the provision to
growers of the necessary technical information to effectively manage their groves.
The public education component has started and will be fully on stream
in FY2002/03. Consultants will be engaged to investigate and conduct research services.
LAND ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME
The objective of this programme is to rationalize the allocation and
use of land in an integrated and sustainable manner. Work has commenced on the Inventory
of Public Lands and Buildings. The scanning and Indexing of the Titles Office is well
underway.
It is anticipated that during FY2002/03 the Town Planning Department,
and the St. Elizabeth and St. Catherine Parish Councils will be strengthened.
Software for tracking and recording activities on public land will be
acquired. The Inventory of Public land is near completion.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Northern Jamaica Development
Upon completion of the Northern Jamaica Development project, the road
network structure from Negril to Port Antonio will be significantly improved.
To date 73% of the work on Segment I, Negril to Montego Bay, has been
completed. The remaining portion will be completed in FY2002/03.
The contract for work on Segment II, Montego Bay to Ocho Rios, was
signed in August 2001 and work began in December 2001. Cleaning and grubbing of the right
of way have been completed along the Falmouth By-pass and sections of the roadway between
Runaway Bay and Cooper’s Pen. Preparations are in progress for the commencement of
construction of the Martha Brae River Bridge at Hague in Trelawny.
Consultants have been mobilized for rescoping of work in Segment III,
Ocho Rios to Fair Prospect. The construction contract will be awarded this year and
construction is expected to be 30% complete by the end of the fiscal year.
Parish Infrastructure Development PROJECT
The objective of this project is to strengthen and reform the local
government system so that Parish Councils will be able to deliver basic services in an
efficient and sustainable manner.
Steady progress has been made in the strengthening of Parish
Councils’ capabilities. A total of 400 computers have been purchased; New Accounting
Systems have been installed and staff is undergoing training under a pilot project at the
Manchester Parish Council. Seventy-two (72) kilometers of parochial roadway have been
completed in 10 parishes.
Work to be undertaken in FY2002/03 include:
Completion of the property revaluation exercise;
Installation of computers in all local authorities;
Implementation of new computerized accounting systems in at least 4
local authorities;
Completion of refurbishing work on Browns Town market;
Commencement of construction work on the Spanish Town and Ocho Rios
markets.
NATIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
The aim of this project is to improve the management of solid waste
across the island.
Work has been progressing satisfactorily. The designs and installation
of perimeter lighting at Riverton City Disposal Site has been completed, along with the
access road from Spanish Town Road to the entrance of the site.
Activities to be undertaken in FY2002/03 include:
Completion of the construction of the bridge across the Duhaney
River;
Construction of site access road to the north of the landfill;
Construction of designated waste cell for special and hazardous
waste;
Implementation of closure plan for Mineral Heights, Lakes Pen and Mt.
Eagle sites;
Development of the National Solid Waste Management Action Plan.
NATIONAL ROAD SERVICES IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The project is intended to create a self-sustaining system for
administering a safe and reliable road network by strengthening the capacity of the
National Works Agency (NWA) and establishing an improved road maintenance programme to
inform future road rehabilitation and improvement.
The project will be executed over a four (4) year period and will
consist of three (3) components. Institutional Strengthening, Road Maintenance and Design
for Road Rehabilitation. Total project costs over the implementation period amount to
US$35mn.
The Loan Contract was signed on March 22, 2002 and disbursements are
set to begin in the very near future.
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