Mark Beckford, Gleaner Writer

Twelve socially-challenged communities are set to benefit from Innercity Basic Services, a new project of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

This disclosure was made yesterday by Scarlette Gillings, JSIF's managing director, during a church service held to mark the organisation's 10th anniversary.

The service was held at Pentecostal Tabernacle on 72 Wildman Street, in Kingston. According to Ms. Gillings : "We can proudly say, that since inception and up to our 2005-2006 financial year, we have approved approximately 858 projects and of this 640 has been finally completed. Overall this reflects a monetary investment of $4.5 billion with over 1.3 million persons benefiting directly," she said.

Successes of JSIF

Also in attendance was Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies. In noting the successes of JSIF, Dr. Davies said the JSIF was initially meant to last for four years. "It's an excellent programme. It's one which other countries have sought to copy because of the way in which we have implemented it. Jamaica notoriously is contentious in such programmes and this one has never had any accusations or allegations about it."

Describing the 10 years as those of success and fulfilment, JSIF chairman Dr. Wesley Hughes, said the Fund's success has proved wrong detractors who thought the programme was one which would end up in corruption. "At one stage when we were setting up this project, a radio commentator said this was going to collapse in corruption and be totally a waste of government funds. I was very grateful for that statement because it has been a beacon for us to say that this should not happen. Today we stand proudly in front of you to say we have delivered fairly, honestly and have not collapsed in a heap of corruption," he said.