Westmoreland Municipal Corporation gets technical equipment valued at $7.8 million from JSIF

The Jamaica social investment also gave geo-information systems (GIS) tools which include four handheld tablets, eight desktop computers, one laptop, a 42-inch plotter for printing plans and blueprints, a heavy-duty printer, and a drone.

M.D of JSIF, Omar Sweeney, stated in his speech on Friday at the handing over ceremony in Savanna-La-Mar . He also added that these devices would boost the work of the local authority in sustainable community development.

He also pointed out that the employees will receive the requisite training to make use of the tools effectively.

Sweeny also added that the pieces of equipment had been released with the help of World Bank , who sanctioned the loan of US$42 million under the mission of integrated Community Development Project (ICDP) which is being fulfilled by JSIF.

“We will be helping six parish councils with the necessary tools, which we consider are necessary for you to sustain and bring out the essential work to support the development of communities in the parish,” he said.

Mayor of Savanna-La-Mar, Bertel Moore also expressed gratitude to JSIF, And he added that the equipment would develop service delivery at the municipal corporation.

He also stated that he has some staff here, who are hard workers. Who try to deliver the most trustworthy service they can and after getting this equipment, help them more to provide the type of service that in Westmoreland.

While, Senior Social Development Officer at JSIF, Shunelle Nevers, said a vital component of the ICDP project is to provide institutional strengthening and capability building through technical aid.

“It is crucial to highlight that JSIF does not stay in these communities. We answer to a need and then we exit, so JSIF must build the capacity of the agencies that are directly accountable for the day-to-day lives of the residents that we work,” she added.

The ICDP, was launched in 2014, is supposed to end in May 2021. Component three of the programme is geared at community development and institutional strengthening of government agencies.

The other municipal corporations to benefit from support are Kingston and St Andrew, St James, Clarendon, St Catherine and St Ann.