Gillings

More help is coming for traditional banana-growing communities hard hit by the recent contraction in the sector.

The European Union (EU), which has already committed billions of dollars to the diversification of the ailing banana industry, has approved a further grant of €1.1 million (J$116 million) to provide support to these communities.

This time, the grant is in response to a request from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and will be used to provide social and economic infrastructure support to traditional banana-growing communities in four of six targeted parishes.

The money is being provided under the auspices of the European Union Banana Support Programme (EUBSP) which seeks to enhance Government's rural development efforts in St Mary, Portland, Clarendon, St James, St Thomas and St Catherine.

Encouraging diversity

The JSIF grant will facilitate improvement in education and transportation in the selected parishes.

Managing Director of the JSIF, Scarlette Gillings, says the EU grant will be used to address many of the challenges facing traditional banana-growing communities while supporting and encouraging economic diversity.

"The EU-funded project will drive intervention aimed at improving access to basic social infrastructure, namely agricultural feeder roads and schools," Gillings said.

This will include the rehabili-tation of 12.7 kilometres in the targeted parishes.

Among the roads to be rehabilitated is the Moore Town main road in the Rio Grande Valley, Portland, which was the scene of a major traffic accident in December which left 14 persons dead.

According to Gillings, the JSIF will implement the project over two years and will monitor and evaluate its effectiveness.

Gillings said the JSIF would work closely with various stake-holders and the communities to ensure compliance with its established standards.

Improving competitiveness

The EU had previously provided $400 million to the Rural Agricul-tural Development Authority (RADA) for the overall manage-ment and coordination of the diversification component of the banana support programme.

This was in addition to $4.7 billion in grant funding provided over the past four years to improve the competitiveness of the banana export industry under the EU Special Framework of Assistance to traditional African, Caribbean and Pacific banana producers.

The women of Mango Valley, St Mary, who were displaced when Jamaica Producers Group quit banana export, have also received a $26 million grant to move into export and agri-tourism.

Proposed projects

The projects proposed to be implemented by JSIF with the EU grant

Moore Town Road rehabilitation, Portland

Bellevue Road rehabilitation, Portland

Duncan's Pen/Windsor Road rehabilitation, St Catherine

Maryland Road Construction, St Catherine

Preston Land Rural Feeder Road rehabilitation, St Mary

John's Hall Road rehabilitation, Clarendon

Retreat Primary & Junior High School expansion, St Mary