Tourism projects to benefit from $635-m beautification programme
TOURISM Minister Aloun Assamba says the $635.8-million beautification programme to start later this month has been expanded to include Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) projects.
Speaking at Monday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, the minister said that similar projects which were being planned by the TEF will be added to the programme.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller last month announced the $635.8-million programme to clean up rural towns and urban centres, starting this month and lasting for six months, in preparation for Cricket World Cup 2007.
She described the project as a “special six-month, clean-up and beautification programme” covering the entire island, not to be confused with current programmes like Lift-Up Jamaica, and to be financed out of the savings from the Venezuelan PetroCaribe oil facility. However, she was unable to give further details, as she said that the programme was still at a planning stage.
On Monday, Assamba said that the programme will involve both the private and public sector partnering in a steering committee with clearly defined roles, a timeframe and the necessary funding.
She said that the funding would be a combination of PetroCaribe resources and TEF funds which are already approved.
The scope of work will include the clean-up of open lots, median strips and verges to accommodate landscaping, as well as the removal of derelict buildings and the execution of landscaping projects, she said.
Targeted for beautification are median strips and
verges, traffic islands and roundabouts, town centres and communities, community parks and public open spaces.
Some funds have already been identified and some projects already slated for beautification include National Heroes park, Devon House, the Jose Marti roundabout, Mandeville Park, Mineral Heights roundabout, Neville Antonio Park (Portland), Watson Taylor Park (Lucea) and Naggo Head roundabout, Portmore, Minister Assamba said.
A steering committee is to be appointed under the chairmanship of the Minister of Local Government and the Environment Dean Peart, and will include representatives of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Tourism Product Development Company, the Social Development Commission, the Urban Development Corporation, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for CWC 2007, Jampro, the National Solid Waste Management Authority and a parish council representative.
The minister said the parks department of the National Solid Waste Management Authority would have the responsibility of monitoring the project, and that efforts were underway to identify a project manager.