Work will continue on the phasing out of ozone depleting substances, through funding of $3 million which has been allocated to the Montreal Protocol for the Phasing Out of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), in the Ministry of Land and Environment.

The sum, which has been set aside in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, will assist with the continued monitoring of the development programmes, including special training in hydrocarbon technology in the refrigeration industry; refresher training for refrigeration technicians and customs officers; public awareness; and recovery and recycling.

A customs training project will also be conducted and retrofitting/ replacement incentives will be provided for end-users, while the relevant actions will be implemented for the phasing out of ODS. In addition, data will be compiled on ODS consumption and reports will be submitted as required.

The objectives of the project are to, initiate actions to provide a suitable climate in the country for the expeditious phasing out of ODS; co-ordinating, promoting and monitoring in-country activities for the phasing out of ODS; and receiving, collecting, analyzing and disseminating information on the issues involved in ozone layer protection.

This project, which is aimed at phasing out ozone depleting substances by 2006, will also develop and implement required projects; provide liaison between Jamaica and the relevant organs under the Protocol, and collect and report data on national ODS consumption.

Up to September 2003, the project had attained a number of targets, including the completion of the island’s refrigerant management plan; finalized elements of the Ozone Act and submitted it to the National Environment and Planning Agency for review. It also conducted workshops on alternatives to Methyl Bromide and carried out a public awareness programme as well as commenced the Terminal Phase Out Management Plan, with the training of an additional 150 refrigeration technicians in good practices.