FOR THE Tourism Product Development and Services programme, the allocation is $87.5 million. Of this amount, $40 million will go to the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) for training, beautification projects, maintenance of properties, visitor information programme (anti-harassment) and sustainable environmental and tourism projects.
The Jamaica Reservation Services (JRS), which is responsible for providing information pertaining to available accommodations, car rental facilities and other services, will receive $6 million.
The JRS also has responsibility for providing telesales for the Jamaica Tourist Board. In addition, it provides marketing support for hotels, villas, attractions and other products in the tourism sector with special emphasis on the integration of business entities that offer support to the sector.
An entity under the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, the JRS seeks opportunities to promote and market entertainment events as part of the tourism product.
Meanwhile, Jamaica Vacations (JamVac) Limited will also receive $41.5 million to create conditions for accelerating the growth of visitor numbers to Jamaica and to increase the airlift capacity, both scheduled and charter, by working with existing and new carriers.
In carrying out its mandate, Jamaica Vacations Limited assumes an element of risk with tour operators on their programme and assists with co-operative advertising for the destination to protect the seat risk. JamVac also collaborates with tour operators to facilitate charter operations in areas that need to be exploited, as well as those not yet fully exploited. At present, efforts are being made to refocus on the United Kingdom (UK) and European markets.
$1B TO REHABILITATE COURTHOUSES
THE MINISTRY of Justice has been allocated a sum of $1 billion to rehabilitate courthouses and judicial residences and for the purchase of equipment and facilities.
Of this sum, $81.2 million will go towards the construction and renovation of selected courthouses across the island. Among the facilities to be refurbished are the Linstead and Old Harbour courthouses in St. Catherine; Adelphi and Montego Bay courthouses in St. James; Sandy Bay and Chapelton courthouses in Clarendon; Lucea Courthouse in Hanover; the Port Maria Courthouse in St. Mary; the Green Island Courthouse in Westmoreland; the Christiana and Cross Keys courthouses in Mandeville; and the Sutton Street Courthouse and the Family Court in Kingston.
Repairs will also be carried out at the Justice Training Institute and on the general upgrading of air condition units throughout the courts. The other $18.8 million will be allotted for the purchasing of motor vehicles for judges.
The allocation also provides $16.2 million for the Citizens Security and Justice Project, for which the ministries of Justice and National Security have joint responsibility.
The Government of Jamaica and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are funding the project.
AIDS/STD PROJECT GETS $54M
AS THE Government intensifies its efforts to tackle the problem of HIV/AIDS in Jamaica, the Ministry of Health has received $54 million this fiscal year to carry out its AIDS/STD programme.
The allocation will be used to continue the control of HIV/STD infection as well as reducing the transmission of the disease in Jamaica and improving the health status of Jamaicans.
The programme, which started in May 1999, is a joint venture between the Ministry and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Targets outlined for the period 2004/05 include the continued strengthening of services available in sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics; the maintenance of HIV testing among sentinel groups in all parishes and the offer of counselling; the improvement of laboratory efficiency; and, increased training for counsellors in collaboration with University of the West Indies.
High on the agenda for the year also is, the reduction of pre-natal HIV/STI transmission and congenital syphilis and, the improvement in contact investigator services.
Under the programme so far, there have been a number of achievements such as the procurement of HIV test kits for sentinel surveillance; the conducting of studies on sexual behaviour of high-risk groups and special surveys in HIV/STD; and, the formulation of study protocol on feasibility of rapid HIV testing. In addition, more than 1,552 women in the parishes of St. Catherine, Kingston and St. Andrew were tested between January and March last year in the mother-to-child transmission programme and Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts (PLACE) study was conducted in the parishes of St. James and Westmoreland.
The disbursement of condoms (with the South-East Regional Health Authority distributing 48,000) and counselling on HIV/STI help line remain ongoing ventures in addition to the upgrading of comprehensive health centre for STI services under the programme; and the AIDS/STI awareness media
campaign was continued for a three-month period.
It was also determined that the new cases of primary and secondary syphilis fell by 29 per cent.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
PROJECT GETS $46.9M
A SUM OF $46.9 million has been allocated to the New Horizons for Primary Schools Project, as outlined in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure.
The funds will be used to increase literacy and numeracy in targeted schools, by the provision of quality education. It also gives support to low performing schools, and focuses on poverty alleviation and creating a culture of success.
Targets for the new financial year include the continued development and implementation of individualised Mathematics and Reading programmes; the maintenance and support of the Education Technology Resource Centre located at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE); and the continued intervention in literacy and Mathematics, utilising resource specialists in 72 primary schools.
Achievements realised under this project up to December 2003 include: the procurement of 155 computers, printers and software for schools, regional offices and the project implementation unit; the training of 432 parents in parenting education; and the implementation of breakfast programmes in 14 schools.
The project, which is expected to be completed by September 2004, is funded by the Govern-ment and the United States Agency for International Dev-elopment (USAID).
SECONDARY SCHOOLS GET $131.8M
A SUM OF $131.8 million has been allocated to the Secondary Education Programme, in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture. The programme is comprised predominantly of Phase 2 of the Reform of Secondary Education (ROSE) project.
The funds are directed toward executing a three-fold objective.
These include the continued improvement of the quality and equity of secondary education through school-based initiatives; to expand access to upper secondary education in a cost effective manner through building new schools, extension and refurbishment of schools, public financing of private secondary education, and use of extended day or double shifts.
The third objective is to strengthen the capacity of the central ministry and regional offices to manage reform.
This project has been extended from an initial two-year period ending in April 2003, to a further extension, which brings the project to an end in September 2007.
The programme has accomplished a number of goals up to December 2003.
Among these are the training of 220 persons from 53 schools and the provision of 4,050 additional grade 10 places. Also, 368 grades 10 and 11 spaces were provided for students, in independent schools.
This year, the targets are no less ambitious. It is anticipated that the implementation of 99 school improvement plans will be funded.
Also 1,800 heads of departments, college lecturers and education officers will be trained in the use and supervision of the ROSE curriculum.
Additionally, consultancy will commence in the development of diagnostic tools to identify or correct grades seven to nine literacy or numeracy problems.
The secondary education programme is funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the Government of Jamaica.
$57M FOR BASIC SCHOOLS PROJECT
THE ENHANCEMENT of Basic Schools Project, which falls under the Early Childhood Programme, in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, gets $57 million.
Among the targets for 2004/05 are the completion of pre-contract work for civil works, and the commencement of training of 240 basic school teachers. It is also expected that 3,000 early childhood policy and standards documents will be reproduced, as well as 1,000 student manuals.
Achievements recognised under this project up to February 2004 include the collection of baseline data, and the completion of the terms of reference for consultants who will assist with design and specifications of furniture, play and learning equipment.
The project, which is expected to end in March 2006, is funded by the Government and the Caribbean Development Bank.
FIRE SERVICES
GET $115M
THE MINISTRY of Local Government, Community Development and Sport's fire protection services is to benefit from a total of $115 million.
Of this sum, $9 million will go towards the payment of principal and interest on the loan for fire trucks and other critical purchases of equipment.
A further $25 million has been allocated for the repair of fire vehicles while $28 million will go towards the acquisition of fire fighting equipment such as hoses with couplings, helmets, breathing apparatus and protective jackets to be used in fire prevention and firefighting.
In the meantime, a provision of $50 million has been granted for use on a priority basis to effect repairs to fire stations islandwide.
A further $3 million has been allocated to carry out the repairs and replacement of fire hydrants islandwide also on a priority basis.
Additionally, the National Solid Waste Management Authority has been allocated some $28 million for the purchase of equipment and the maintenance of parks.
Meanwhile, the planning and development project has received $12 million while the Parish Councils have been granted $5 million for the maintenance and upgrading of infirmaries in 10 parishes in Jamaica.
