St. Catherine

This economic infrastructure project will positively impact this area which has farming as a mainstay. In 2001, RADA reported that there are approximately 285 farm holdings in Bottom Bonnett, with approximately 180 registered farmers. The main crops include citrus, cabbage, yams, sweet potato, sweet pepper and other cash crops. The total acreage under production in Bottom Bonnett is 230 acres. RADA has projected that production is likely to increase by approximately 30% if the road is repaired. (RADA St. Catherine:2011)

Additionally, Bottom Bonnet fits JSIF’s criteria for funding being that it possesses Quintile 1 characteristics. The following information has been garnered from the SDC generated community profile along with anecdotal information:
- 70% of houses are of board, while 30% are concrete. The majority are modest 1 to 2-bedroom structures. With an average household size is 7 persons.
- Pit latrines are the only form of sanitation in the community as there is no main sewerage system for the district
- There is no community water supply. Residents utilize the river, tanks, and trucked water.
- There is no electricity. In 2000, the community was chosen for a pilot project in solar electricity. Solar panels were provided for each house, as well as one solar streetlight. While this is sufficient for basic lighting needs, refrigerators and televisions cannot be operated.
- There are no services within the community. Basic and Primary Schools are found in Top Bonnett, the Health Centre and Police Station are in Guys Hill and a Postal Agency is in Benbow. These are all within a 5km radius

The project will support the implementation of the Lauriston Community Action Plan, selected from a list of projects formulated by the community during community crime prevention action planning exercises. The project will be funded by the Japan Social Development Fund Grant and will be implemented through a consultancy in collaboration with the Lauriston Benevolent Society. The implementation of the project will assisting in minimising the probleems affecting the youth, contribute to crime and violence prevention and contribute to the improvement of the public safety dynamics of the communtiy

This project forms a part of the Inner City Basic Services Project of which Basic Infrastructural work is a major component. Since one of the objective of the project is To improve the perception of Public Safety it is hoped that this intervention will assist in achieving this objective.

The students who attend the Spanish Town Primary School are predominantly from the district of Spanish Town Central which has a total population of 20,097. Data obtained from a wealth ranking survey conducted by the Social Development Commission in 2005 indicates that of the total population 15% are extremely poor, 80% poor and only 5% are considered middle class.

Housing stock differs among the three social classes, as persons who fall within the extremely poor category live in structures that are predominantly made from board and zinc; persons within the poor category live predominantly in concrete and board houses, while the middle class live in concrete houses. Land and housing tenure also differ amongst the groups as the extremely poor capture the house in which they live, the poor rents their houses, while the middle class own their houses.

Educational attainment is another category that differs across the groups as at the time of the survey 25% of the school aged population of the extremely poor attend school regularly with 90% matriculating from secondary school level with three or less CXCs, 75% of the poor attend school regularly with 60% obtaining three or less CXCs, while 90% of the middle class attend school regularly with 20% attaining less than three CXCs.

The data also indicated that only 1% of the youth (15-29yrs) that fall in the extremely poor category are employed; within the poor category only 30% are employed while 70% of the middle class youth are employed.

Despite the challenges faced by the school and its environs the Spanish Town Primary School is known for its good performance. During the last academic year the school achieved 71% Mastery at the Grade Four Literacy Examination, and at the GSAT Level most of its students passed with grades above 70%. Currently there are approximately 500 students on the PATH programme.