Avia Collinder, Gleaner Writer

Following on Japan-CARICOM cooperation agreements in 2000, Jamaica has benefited from technical assistance programmes, sponsored by this Asian country, in the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention as well as support for varied development programmes. The island has also benefited in the areas of information technology and maritime research.

In the area of HIV/AIDs prevention, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided 11 volunteers to the regional offices of the Ministry of Education to strengthen its prevention programme. This incorporates a five-year strategic plan with a view to developing, expanding and managing a national programme of HIV/AIDS/STI awareness. JICA works in close collaboration with this unit.

The ministry has also received funding assistance from UNESCO through the government of Japan Funds-in-Trust for human resource development.

In the area of Maritime research, JICA's technical cooperation with the Caribbean Maritime Institute involves the provision of one volunteer. JICA has also developed new courses in fisheries technology for local and regional fisher folk.

Under the programme, a new fishing vessel was also donated for use by instructors and fishermen training as well as deep water fishery research/surveys.

One expert was also dispatched to the National Water Commission to support that organisation's capacity building programme in the area of maintenance management.

Grassroots development

Grassroots development pro-grammes include technical assistance in the area of gymnastics in Jamaica. Jamaicans can now participate in the "Youth-Upbringing Programme", which is endorsed by the Institute of Sports Limited, Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sport.

Yasunori Ishimoto, the gymnastics coach, was dispatched to Jamaica in 1991. After working at GC Foster College, Mr. Ishimoto has been training young persons at the Ishimoto's School of Gymnastics in Kingston, to participate in local as well as international events.

JICA donated J$171,798 to the gymnastics programme, an amount intended to cover the gymnasts' participation in overseas com-petitions, the purchase of uniforms and track suits, as well as equipment including a video camera set for recording training sessions.

JICA has also provided training in the area of prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases, a course which will end in fiscal year 2007 after its start in 2003. Equipment valued at US$8,613.19 was given to the Ministry of Health to strengthen the programme.

The Japanese have also been collaborating with the Ministry of Education to improve information technology programmes in schools.

Computer maintenance work-shops were held by the Japanese at several local primary schools.

According to JICA, more workshops in the areas of program-ming and networking are to be held soon.