Member of the Old Harbour Development Committee, Bruce Donaldson, raises a concern at the launch of the UNFPA 2007 State of the World Population Report, with members of the head table. He was speaking at the launch which took place at Ascot Hall in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Tavia Peterson, Gleaner Writer

The population of Jamaica and Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to grow by an estimated 3.3 million people by next year.

"This number is expected to be at five million by 2030," said Jewel Quallo-Rosberg, chief technical adviser of the UNFPA's office for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.

Quallo-Rosberg was speaking at yesterday's launch of the UNFPA 2007 State of the World Population Report under the theme 'Unleashing the Potential of Urban Growth'.

She mentioned that 93 per cent of urban growth will take place in countries like Jamaica, especially as rural people seek a better quality of life for their families in order to reduce risks and vulnerability to poverty.

The technical adviser highlighted that, urbanisation as considered by many, has negative spin-offs associated with it. She emphasised, however, that there were many benefits to be had.

With many cities already plagued by poverty, Quallo-Rosberg said it was important that these cities implement pre-emptive policies and take opportunity of the advantages produced by urbanisation. She also stated that "policy makers should accept urban growth as inevitable and plan ahead for the social and sustainable use of urban space".