A total of $21.7 million has been allocated to the Environment Management of Kingston Harbour Project in the Ministry of Land and Environment, to develop structural options for implementing strategies for the Government of Jamaica to consider, and to support pre-investment efforts to address major pollutant sources.

The funds, which have been set aside in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives, will also go towards creating a basic zoning plan of the Kingston Harbour and facilitating the institutional arrangements best suited to coordinate the diverse stakeholders and activities that impact upon the current state of the harbour.

Funded by the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Jamaica, the project, which was established last April and will run until April 2005, is also aimed at creating the institutional setting needed to coordinate the diverse stakeholders and activities that impact upon the current state of the Harbour.

Targets initially envisaged include: the development of a physical plan for the harbour; improving environmental performance of industries discharging into the harbour; development of documentation and tender documents for a ship-generated waste reception facility; and public outreach, education and training. As at September 2003, a project coordinator and assistant coordinator were appointed and a steering committee elected and work plan prepared.