The Government of Jamaica and the European Commission this week signed four financing agreements totalling €17.6 million (J$1.7 billion) through the ninth European Development Fund, to support four infrastructure and institutional strengthening projects.

The funds represent the final disbursement of the first financial protocol, which was created under the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)/European Union (EU) Cotonou Agreement. These agreements will cover support to the road- sector programme; rehabilitation of the Negril and Ocho Rios waste water treatment plants; a technical cooperation facility; and institutional strengthening for the Planning Institute of Jamaica.

At the signing, which took place at Jamaica House on Monday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who signed on behalf of the Government, said the agreement was part of the continuing positive relationship between Jamaica and the European community. Of the sum, $1.225 billion (€12.25 million) will go towards the road-sector programme. Some €2.25 million of this will go towards institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Transport and Works which, Mr. Golding pointed out, has the responsibility of undertaking major civil works projects.

"It not just a question of going to contract, it's a question of the design work, the surveys, the studies that have to be carried out to determine the cost-effectiveness of these projects, to determine the best engineering solution, and therefore, the strengthening of that capacity within the ministry is going to be critical."

Budget support

The remaining €10 million will encompass budget support, for, among other things, the weigh- scale programme. Mr. Golding explained that this programme is critical because of the damage being done to road surfaces because of improper distribution of vehicle loads.

In his remarks, head of delegation for the European Commission, Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni, said the support to the road sector, which will receive the lion's share of the funds, heralds the introduction of a tool that is meant to become the hallmark of the upcoming 10th European Development Fund.