MEMBER of Parliament for eastern Portland Donald Rhodd, is calling on the government to give the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) access to 20 per cent of the road maintenance fund.Observer.

Rhodd, pleased that sections of the badly damaged roadways of the Rio Grande Valley in his constituency would be repaired by JSIF, said the fund has been doing a stellar job in assisting rural Jamaicans.

“JSIF has proven their commitment through their work the island. They have the capacity, management, professionalism, integrity and transparency. The fund has shown its commitment to rural development,” Rhodd told the

On Tuesday a contract worth $47 million was signed by JSIF for the rehabilitation of 3.6 kilometres of road from Moore town to Cornwall Barracks in the upper Rio Grande Valley.

The funding was provided by the European Union Banana Support Programme.

Rhodd had more praise for JSIF.

“With JSIF there are no cost overruns, no short changed work and the work is completed on time. The community takes ownership of the project and you can see where the money goes,” he said.

JSIF is funded by soft loans and grants from regional and international funding agencies. Its major source of funding is the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The fund has repaired roads, built schools and undertaken a number of other social projects aimed at empowering residents of poor communities islandwide.