Japanese assist Jamaica's effort to curtail crime

BY PATRICK FOSTER Observer writer fosterp@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, June 07, 2010

THE Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) last Thursday received US$2.65 million (approximately J$239 million) to attack urban decay and criminality in broad swathes of the island stretching from the Corporate Area to May Pen in Clarendon as well as St James.

The grant from the Japanese Government comes in the wake of the security forces' operation in Tivoli Gardens last month and the subsequent call on the Government for an extensive onslaught on criminal elements in other garrison communities.

According to JSIF, the grant is expected to fund interventions until June 2013.

At the launch of the project, held at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston, opposition spokesman on finance Omar Davies lauded the programme and commented that an overlay of high crime areas would also show high levels of illiteracy, teenage pregnancy and malnutrition along with low attendance in schools.

"It is not only about fighting crime, but it is in terms of building human resources," said Davies, who was representing Opposition Leader Portia Simson Miller.

Financed by the Japanese Social Development Fund through the World Bank, JSIF says that the fund will be administered through two main components.

In the first instance, an allocation of US$850,000 is being implemented with the support of the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) to assist in the development of a Crime and Violence Information System or Crime Observatory through consultations with Mona GeoInformatics Limited.

Component two should see US$1.6 million spent to support innovative approaches to crime and violence prevention "through demand-driven sub-projects developed and implemented by non-government organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) with established track records in crime and violence prevention in the Kingston to May Pen metropolitan corridor and St James".

According to a JSIF document, the project reflects priorities established in dialogue between the World Bank, the Government of Jamaica through the Planning Institute of Jamaica, JSIF and the Japanese Government.

Areas of attention in the selected communities include mediation and conflict resolution; social programmes for youth at risk aimed at violence prevention; and social support services for vulnerable families.

JSIF already administers inner-city programmes through the Jamaica Violence Action.

A second-round call for proposals will be done in November 2010 and will target NGOs and CBOs in the Kingston to May Pen Metropolitan corridor, with the addition of St James.

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COMMENTS (6)

Robert Taylor
6/7/2010

Hoping the aid is towards helping to upgrade the security force professionalism. However, without the government passing laws that effectively curtail the unholy alignment of criminals and politicians, then all is for nought. If only some of those aid is towards training, development and methods of rooting out corrupt security personnel; then probably the rule of law can be a standard applied by those who are suppose to enforce it. It's tough when there is no line between criminals and leaders.

Maude Cooper
6/7/2010

Although I appreciate the gesture, I wonder if there is any expectation on their part other than genuinely trying to help with this big problem. The grant would make some difference as it would appear that the police force are working around the clock in their efforts, which is clearly showing progress. I for one am truly grateful to the force and wish them all the best. And to the Japanese, a big thank you.

Robert Rowe
6/7/2010

If there is any culture out there with respect is the Japanese and Jamaica should send children from a lot of these crime driven neighborhoods to Japan to learn proper ethic and manner to the humanity. Every country have there share of crime, but Jamaica's crimes is a pollution to the entire Island. Citizen are the solution to crime and where are all the parenting, I know that how i survive the inner city. The Jamaica I know was well manner and hard working and peaceful, let regain that sprint

Norman Edmonson
6/7/2010

Call me a cynic, but I just cannot respect the opinions of the opposition or any politician who have stood by and watched the development of gangs in so-called garrison communities and the escalating crime rate and did nothing about it, then suddenly want everyone to listen to what they have to say on the issue.

David Armstrong
6/7/2010

Any help from foreign entities to solve Jamaica’s social problems is always good. However, no amount of outside help will clean up the cesspit that has been created. This cesspit must be cleaned up by Jamaicans demonstrating their desire to do so. This is perhaps what Mr. Davies is alluding to in his comments: "It is not only about fighting crime, but it is in terms of building human resources." Solving Jamaica’s social and political problems will require human resources from within the country not outside. Real change can only come if people really want it and are prepared for it. In essence there must be a cultural revolution to change the negative behavior that coexist or feeds on the corruption like maggots feeding on the carcass of an animal.

george watson
6/7/2010

I hope ths money is not being used to give people a fish but to teac h them to fish. WE HAVE TO GET RID OF THIS freeness mentality which gave rise to this don concept in the first place.
We cannot replace one don for another.

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Japanese assist Jamaica's effort to curtail crime