Jamaica and UK signal framework doc for $2.9-billion violence-prevention challenge
JIS Information- The Governments of Jamaica and the UK (UK) have signed a framework doc signaling their intention to collaborate on a £15-million ($2.9-billion) violence-prevention challenge.
The doc was signed by Minister of Overseas Affairs and Overseas Commerce, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, and Secretary of State for Overseas, Commonwealth and Growth Affairs of the UK, the Rt. Hon. James Cleverly, throughout a press convention following a strategic dialogue on the Ministry’s downtown Kingston places of work on Might 19.
Expressing gratitude and appreciation to the Authorities and folks of the UK, Minister Johnson Smith mentioned the initiative, to be funded by the UK over six years, will probably be far-reaching domestically and internationally.
“This partnership will improve our whole-of-government strategy to violence discount and prevention, whereas partaking a number of stakeholders in our collective efforts to fight excessive ranges of criminality,” the Minister mentioned.
In the meantime, Mr. Cleverly mentioned the violence-prevention partnership is one more demonstration of the UK’s help of Jamaica’s targets and aspirations and Imaginative and prescient 2030.
“Our focus will probably be on a public-health strategy trying upstream, addressing the drivers of violent conduct and targeted very a lot on prevention. I’ve been impressed by Jamaica’s plan to create a safe, cohesive and simply society, and the UK Authorities will present £15 million over the subsequent six years to assist Jamaica scale back violence and the impression that it has on society on an entire and on this glorious nation’s economic system extra usually,” he mentioned.
Minister Johnson Smith mentioned the UK-Jamaica partnership encompasses a variety of areas and entails vital funding.
“In 2022 alone, we assessed that grant funding amounted to £81.3 million. These funds had been primarily allotted to agricultural growth initiatives, notably within the southern space of the island, and along with ongoing help we mentioned the potential of increasing our cooperation past conventional areas, exploring funding alternatives in Jamaica’s tourism, mining and logistics sectors,” she mentioned.
The Minister mentioned the strategic dialogue coated a variety of matters, together with safety, local weather change, commerce and funding, well being, the commemoration of the seventy fifth anniversary of the WindRush and different diaspora and consular affairs, Haiti and the battle in Ukraine.
Within the meantime, Mr. Cleverly mentioned the UK is deeply happy with its relationship with Jamaica and of the contribution that the Jamaican diaspora has made and continues to make within the UK.
“I intend to construct on that spirit of friendship, collaboration and goodwill,” he indicated.