The Government will be investing $300 million through the Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP) and the European Union’s Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP), to benefit hundreds of at-risk youth.
This initiative will benefit youth in communities prioritized by the national Community Renewal Programme (CRP).
This was revealed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in his 2016/17 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on May 24.
Mr. Holness said the intervention will boost youth employability and involvement in wealth creation through training and certification in market-driven vocational skill areas, personal development, entrepreneurship and internship.
The programme will continue the Jamaica Social Investment Fund’s (JSIF) thrust to provide a means for persons to have a sustainable livelihood, particularly in the poor communities being targeted.
“Our poverty reduction strategy also includes the provision of basic infrastructure and services for Jamaica’s most underserved communities and will include projects in education, sanitation, road network and access to water,” Mr. Holness said.
The Prime Minister noted that an additional $637 million will be spent on the Basic Needs Trust Fund to expand and rehabilitate nine rural schools, expand two water supply systems and rehabilitate five rural farm roads. Six rural primary schools will also receive assistance geared at improving literacy and numeracy results in the national examinations.
“Special focus will also be directed at enhancing teachers’ and parents’ knowledge of how to identify and cater to children with special needs,” he said.
Mr. Holness further noted that the ICDP will spend over $446 million on activities in volatile communities to improve the waste management infrastructure.
Through the PetroCaribe Development Fund, $86.4 million will also be spent to replace pit latrines in 15 rural schools with flush toilets.
