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US $6.45Million GOJ/UN Project to be implemented in Kingston and Claredon

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#Jamaica, March 21, 2018 – Kingston – The standard of living of 43,000 residents of Northern Clarendon and Western Kingston is expected to significantly improve under a US$6.45 million project to be jointly implemented over the next three years by several United Nations (UN) agencies in partnership with the Government of Jamaica and civil society.

The project, dubbed “Strengthening Human Resilience in Northern Clarendon and West Kingston”, is the first such being implemented, and will focus on building resilience in several areas based on extensive assessments of challenges in the targeted communities.

These include limited access to clean and potable water; the inability to effectively mitigate climate change and natural hazards; persistent poverty; and lack of access to social services, which the UN has identified as foremost threats to the residents’ welfare.

Consequently, the initiative is tailored to strengthen local and community governance bodies, with youth participation being incorporated to design and oversee interventions; and enhance economic, food and nutritional security by creating a climate-resilient agriculture sector and diversified local economy.

It also aims to improve environmental, health and water security to safeguard communities against preventable illnesses such as waterborne and sanitation-related diseases and ensure efficient and sustainable use of natural resources; and strengthen the institutional capacities of the Government and community stakeholders to mainstream the human security approach in Jamaica’s development strategies.

The human security approach, according to the UN General Assembly, underscores the need for protection and empowerment strategies that are people-centred, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented.

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who spoke at the launch at the Spanish Court Hotel, New Kingston on March 12, welcomed the project which he said will significantly benefit the residents.

The Minister said he is particularly pleased that the project will target strengthening of local and community governance bodies, as well as address water issues.  He further noted that the initiative will complement the activities of agencies already working in the targeted communities, to enhance the lives of residents.

“We are looking forward to the elevation of living standards and the enhancement of human dignity… through this joint programme,” Mr. McKenzie said.

Meanwhile, Chief of the UN Human Security Unit, Mehrnaz Mostafavi, expressed confidence that the project will successfully leverage the human security approach towards a new way of advancing progress on the country’s long-term National Development Plan – Vision 2030 Jamaica.

“By taking an integrated approach to improve water, sanitation and natural resource management, the programme will create synergies of expertise towards environmentally sustainable livelihoods.  At the same time, by addressing the root causes of vulnerabilities, the programme promotes concrete improvements in the daily lives of the (residents),” she said.

Ms. Mostafavi further noted that by linking elements of protection, inclusion and empowerment, the project provides useful insights and mechanisms for combining policy and community-level efforts to realise the outcomes of Vision 2030.

“We are happy to help strengthen efforts to mainstream human security as part of development planning in Jamaica,” she added

Ms. Mostafavi also expressed the hope that the project will provide practical guidance on how the United Nations system can strengthen its integrated support to disaster-prone communities in their implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).  The SDGs are 17 global goals set by the UN which focus on addressing wide-ranging social and economic development issues.  These include poverty, hunger, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, the environment and social justice.

UN Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, Bruno Pouezat, said in formulating the project, “we (not only) consulted with Government, but also visited communities to listen to their concerns and make sure to incorporate them for action”.

May Pen’s Mayor, Councillor Winston Maragh, also welcomed the project “wholeheartedly”, noting his satisfaction that it will deal with the main challenge of water accessibility.

“We are really grateful for such a project, and we look forward to working with the entire team,” he said.

Funding for the project includes US$2.94 million being provided by the Government and US$1.65 million from the UN bodies through the UN Trust Fund for Human Security.

The local partners are: the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Planning Institute of Jamaica, Social Development Commission, Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, Clarendon Municipal Corporation, and Clarendon Parish Development Committee.

The UN partners are: the UN Trust Fund for Human Security; Food and Agriculture Organization; Pan American Health Authority; United Nations Development Programme; United Nations Environment Programme; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; UN Women; and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme.

By: Elecia Smith (JIS)

 

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CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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