Citizen security programme may face cash problems
Published:Wednesday | July 13, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Administrators of the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) are concerned about the unavailability of funds to service the huge demand for social intervention initiatives in volatile communities across the island.
"The allocation of CSJP for this fiscal year is J$900 million but may well prove to be inadequate given the rate of consumption of the services that we provide," said Simeon Robinson, CSJP's programme manager.
"So many persons are demanding the service, and we may very well have a need for more fiscal space during this fiscal year, if we are to do as much as the communities are demanding. The reality is that if we do not have the financial space then we would have to delay some of the activities until the next Budget."
He raised the concern in Montego Bay yesterday during a stakeholders' meeting to discuss a Social Development Commission-CSJP agreement for the production of community profiles and community plans for Rose Heights, Glendevon, Farm Heights, North Gully and Canterbury.
Second most communities
St James represents the second largest collection of communities under the project, which is a multi-faceted crime and violence prevention initiative of the Ministry of National Security. CSJP focuses on building community safety and security. It also provides crime- and violence-prevention services to 39 vulnerable and volatile communities in eight parishes, and conducts institutional strengthening of the ministry.
The consultation in Montego Bay was held in an effort to gauge the state of communities under the remit of the CSJP.
Montego Bay-based pastor Knollis King, who was instrumental in brokering the Rose Heights Covenant of Peace initiative, hopes his non-profit organisation receives well-needed funds from the CSJP to continue their programme.
"In order for this initiative to realise long-term effectiveness, we are seeking financial and technical support to implement a number of social intervention ventures that will target the youths, especially for violence prevention and literacy," King implored.
His organisation has taken a zero-tolerance approach to crime in the Rose Heights community, and its members have dedicated themselves to employing social intervention and preventative measures in community crime-fighting.