JSIF Plans $27 Billion Recovery Programme for Schools, Roads and Community Services

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is to spend $27 billion on the Jamaica National Recovery and Resilience Project (JNRRP) across a five-year period, with close to one million people expected to benefit.

The programme is slated to repair 100 schools and establish eight resilience hubs designed to support essential public services. Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, outlined the plans at Wednesday’s (June 3) Post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House.

“JSIF is entering the largest investment phase in its institutional history. Hurricane Melissa opened our eyes to the need for social and infrastructural development and so… everything now is moving towards not just recovery but building out resilience in everything that we do,” he said.

The JNRRP is also expected to improve 42 kilometres of community farm feeder roads. Dr. Wheatley said JSIF is giving special attention to sanitation challenges in communities hit by Hurricane Melissa.

“Sanitation is something that we have to now target going forward, and that is a programme that I will announce later. The Government appreciates that we have our social responsibility as well, and we are now examining and looking at a programme that will address some social issues running through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund,” he said.