Some J$868.4 million has been earmarked by the Government towards ramping up the country’s resilience to disasters and climate risk through the Jamaica Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (JDVRP).

The project, intended to support disaster risk management in the wider context of sustainable development, is expected to begin in the next fiscal year and will feature coastal protection works in Annotto Bay, St Mary and continue works on and around the Big Pond/Myton Gully drain.

It will also facilitate training on the new building codes by institutions such as HEART/ NSTA Trust, Management Institute for National Development (MIND) and the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica.

The project also seeks to complete a three-year research fellowship (seismology); and complete the National Risk Information Platform (NRIP), micro zonation study and coastal assessments.

The project has contributed to infrastructure works and equipping of the seismic support unit at the University of the West Indies.

It also facilitated civil works on two box culverts (Church Pen 1 and 2) and two water trucks procured and delivered to the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

Other achievements included the construction of the Montego Bay Fire Station, Yallahs Fire Station and Port Maria Fire Station, Port Royal Street coastal protection works completed, and the Ecosystems Assessment Report and drafts of the revised Jamaica Fire Code (JFC) and Jamaica Building Code (JBC) completed.

The project is being implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), with funding from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the Government of Jamaica.

–Jamaica Information Service