Jamaica Bauxite Institute initiates phase seven of the Bauxite Community Development Programme

The Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) is preparing to enter phase seven of the Bauxite Community Development Programme (BCDP), as said by BCDP Project Coordinator, Clarence Osbourne. Under phase seven, another tranche of funds is expected to be paid over to the Programme for its multifaceted projects.

“The submissions have been sent to the Ministry of Transport and Mining and they have, in turn, taken it to the Ministry of Finance for them to provide the necessary support,” he said.

The BCDP was formed to ensure sustainable development for communities in and around bauxite mining areas. It was developed by the JBI along with consultants from the then Ministry of Agriculture and Mining. The program aims to facilitate the reinvestment of earnings from the bauxite/alumina industry in the communities affected by bauxite mining operations. The programme aims to initiate sustainable income and employment-generating projects and improve the social and physical infrastructure and economic development.

According to Mr. Osbourne, the programme deals with areas of education, training, agriculture, infrastructure and community development in general.

“We also work through a number of stakeholders, such as the bauxite companies, municipal corporations and numerous government agencies,” Mr. Osbourne said.

“We have in excess of 160 greenhouses impacting eight sites in four bauxite areas, where each of the farmers is given a 3,000-square-foot greenhouse,” he added.