MONTEGO BAY, St James — Residents of Salt Spring in St James are being urged to protect recent investments pumped into the once crime-riddled community.

On May 12 there was the official handover of a community park and green space plus a ground-breaking ceremony for work to be done at the primary school. More than $38 million has been provided to fund both projects, with the completed park costing $4 million dollars. Work on the school, which is set to begin soon and should take nine months to complete, is set to cost an estimated $35.3 million dollars. The work is being done under JSIF’s Integrated Community Development Project II (ICDP II), which is being funded through the European Union.

“I want to implore you to protect this investment which could not have come at a better time — a time when Jamaica is gradually reopening in all areas after two years of COVID-19 and we can be outside again. This green space should become the hub for community activities. It can be used as a homework centre, for the holding of youth club meetings, and most of all recreational activities, which I am sure will help to build bridges and mend many broken bridges,” said minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister, Homer Davis.

“Salt Spring is today a better place, thanks to JSIF and the citizens who continue to play their part. The creation and handing over of this green space comes with responsibility to protect and to preserve, and so I ask every citizen to become the watchman or the watchwoman for this space. Protect the equipment and the infrastructure for the future generation,” Davis continued.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Member of Parliament for St James Central Heroy Clarke.

“I notice I see some youngsters on the outskirts and I want you to understand, I want you to promise yourself that ‘We are going to make sure that we take care of it’. Because it’s not for us… seniors. What is being placed here today is for the youngsters, the youth; to teach them, to show them that there can be a better way,” he told the gathering.

Since 2020 JSIF has made a number of noted investments in Salt Spring. These include the safe passages project which was launched a few months ago, providing 45 enterprise grants; summer camps; and environmental wardens. According to managing director for the fund, Omar Sweeney these projects have transformed the community.

Davis agreed.

“The history of Salt Spring and the stigma that has been attached to this community is well known. However, thanks to the many and varied social interventions which have been implemented by agencies such as JSIF and… the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the change in attitude of citizens, the change to responsible behaviour, and the general positivity of everyone has become very noticeable,” he said.

The latest EU-funded projects are part of a wider effort to change lives, as explained by the EU Delegation to Jamaica’s Head of Cooperation Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz.

“The European Union is partnering with the Government of Jamaica and is providing direct financial support and technical assistance — now 20 million euros, that is 3.4 billion dollars — through our budget support programme in supporting citizen security. With this support the Government will have more resources available to deliver social interventions and community infrastructure in vulnerable communities,” he remarked.