KINGSTON, Jamaica — Supreme Ventures Foundation is partnering with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information to improve fire safety and security at 30 children’s homes at a cost of $40 million.

A Memorandum of Understanding for the undertaking was signed on Wednesday (February 13) at the York Park Fire Station in Kingston, the Jamaica Information Service said in a report.

The project will be implemented over two years, with the first step to entail an assessment of the facilities by the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB).

Thereafter, the recommendations will be implemented, starting with homes with the greatest needs.

Former State Minister in the Ministry, Floyd Green, thanked Supreme Ventures Foundation for partnering with the Government to “better meet the needs of children in State care”.

Green noted that child protection is a “massive priority” of the Administration and “we have to continue to do significant work” in this regard.

“Children who enter the facilities come from very difficult circumstances… and part of our responsibility is to ensure that when they come into contact with our residential facilities, they are safe and come out as better persons,” Green said.

Chief Executive Officer of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, Rosalee Gage-Grey, commended Supreme Ventures Foundation for its continued “investment in the lives of our children”, citing the entity’s $10 million pledge towards the rebuilding of the Walker’s Place of Safety.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Foundation, Peter McConnell, said that the entity views childcare and protection as “very important”.

He added that the decision to fund efforts to improve fire safety at children’s homes is based on data from audits carried out on the institutions, which indicate the need for such support.