The Government has set aside $1 billion to complete activities under the Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP) II during the 2024/25 fiscal year.

The project, being implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), seeks to enhance access to basic urban infrastructure and services, and contribute towards increased community safety in selected economically vulnerable and socially volatile communities in Jamaica.

The World Bank has identified tourism and agriculture as two of the main drivers of economic development for Jamaica and will focus its investments on these two subsectors under the second Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI 2), following the success of REDI 1 which ended in 2016-2017.

The planned upgrade of the tilapia hatchery at Twickenham Park in St Catherine, is expected to bring an end to supply concerns on the local market, while boosting inventory for Jamaica to re-enter the export market for freshwater fish.

The latter is a target Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green hopes to hit by 2029 but in the interim, his focus is on growing the local freshwater fish stock to increase the National Fisheries Authority’s (NFA) coverage of the market from 35 per cent to full supply.

The Government, through the Rural Electrification Programme (REP), is providing persons with access to safe and affordable electricity to improve their quality of life, while stimulating economic and social activities in communities.

Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney, said that under the Programme, the houses of selected beneficiaries will be wired to regularize connection to the national grid.

The investment is valued at more than $100,000 each.

With the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP) ending in May 2024, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is looking to provide additional support under the initiative where necessary.

Undaunted by the recent spate of violence that has rocked Salt Spring in St James, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has vowed to continue its work in the community.

"We have not left Salt Spring because we have not really finished our programme of works there; so we equally are disappointed by some of the activities that have taken place there," JSIF Managing Director Omar Sweeney told the Jamaica Observer.