UK to inject approximately $2.9 billion in grant funding for crime fighting initiatives

Crime fighting efforts by the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) will benefit from approximately $2.9 billion (£15,000,000) in grant funding from the Government of the United Kingdom over a six-year period.

The funding will establish the ‘UK – Jamaica Violence Prevention Partnership’ (VPP) Programme which is being implemented to support the Inter-Ministerial School Support Strategy (ISSS) and other projects within the framework of the Citizen Security Plan. The Ministry of National Security and the British High Commission will lead the implementation of this programme.

Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, the Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn stated that the partnership “will enhance current governance arrangements in violence prevention by fortifying capacity to deliver evidence-based interventions”.

The State Minister made the remark at the Signing Ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Government of Jamaica held earlier today (April 24) at the Ministry of National Security in Kingston.

She further noted that the Government recognises the need for a “coordinated and targeted approach that engages all sectors of society, from government agencies to civil society organisations and community stakeholders”.

As such, the partnership will aid the Government in designing and implementing better strategies to tackle the root causes of heightened violence and bolster protective measures for at-risk youth.

The Minister also noted that through this partnership a multi-sectoral approach will be utilised that includes “support from various programmes, including psychosocial support through the Ministry of National Security Case Managers as well as literacy initiatives, and parenting programmes through the Ministry of Education”.

This integrated approach will include simultaneous delivery of key interventions in seven volatile communities across Jamaica, using low performing schools as entry points.

Over the next two fiscal years approximately two million five hundred thousand pounds (£2, 500, 000) of the funding will be utilised in the implementation of the programme.