JSIF's acting social development manager, Dunstan Bryan, hands over a signed copy of the community agreement to chairman of the Una Mighty Basic Schoolsponsoring body, Alvin Henry. - Photo by George Henry

Clarendon:

The $11 million construction of the Una Mighty Basic School in Central Clarendon has started.

Member of Parliament for the constituency, Mike Henry, told The Gleaner the work started two weeks before the general election and is expected to continue without delays.

The project is being funded by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and members of the Effortville community.

According to Dunstan Bryan, acting social development manager at the JSIF, his agency has provided $10 million, while the community's contribution of $1 million will come in the form of land acquisition, storage of material equipment and security, digging and packing of an absorption pit, conducting of site meetings, and the provision of lighting and power during the construction phase among other things.

Mr. Bryan said he believed the community of Effortville would make every effort to ensure the facilities would be properly maintained, so that it would benefit the many children who would attend the early childhood institution in the future.

The Una Mighty Basic School, in addition to serving the community of Effortville, also serves surrounding communities including Oliver Gardens, Farm, Sevens, Over Line, Long Gully and Coolie Town.

The project, which will benefit 60 students and three teachers, will see the construction of two new classrooms, a sick bay, a kitchen and sanitary facilities.

In addition, furniture and equipment will be provided.

To be completed soon

Work on the project has been contracted to D. Bisasor & Associates Limited and is expected to be complete within four months.

Since its inception in 1996, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, which was established as part of the Government's National Poverty Eradication Programme, has so far invested over $5.28 billion for the implementation of 977 projects across the island.

Schools have accounted for the largest area of the investments, as the JSIF board has approved over $1.81 billion for the construction, rehabilitation, sanitation, equipping and fencing of 388 Schools islandwide.

- George Henry