NEWS RELEASE

Dateline: April 29, 2002

SANTA CRUZ PLAN: NEPA hosts 2nd Stakeholders' Meeting

The Planning and Development Division of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) in collaboration with the St. Elizabeth Parish Council and the Land Administration and Management Programme, will host the 2nd Stakeholders'/Public Meeting to discuss the "Santa Cruz Integrated Development Plan" at the St. Matthews Anglican Church Hall in Santa Cruz on Thursday, May 2, 2002 at 5:00 p.m.

This meeting is the second in a series of meetings aimed at ensuring the participation of the public and private sector agencies, community organisations and other stakeholders in the planning process. This is essential if the plan is to be responsive to the needs of the population.

The "Santa Cruz Integrated Development Plan" involves an orderly, sustained approach to the development of the Santa Cruz area. This includes analysis of demographic social and economic trends in the town to determine the appropriate actions and policies that would create the desired growth pattern. A coordinated approach that links economic, social and physical planning is to be adopted.

Santa Cruz is a sub-regional center located along the main thoroughfare linking Negril to Kingston. It is a thriving service and market center and one of the fastest growing towns in Jamaica. Its population tripled between 1970 and 1982 moving from 2,050 in 1970 to 5,977 in 1982. At its current growth rate the population is expected to double by the year 2015.

The northern boundary of Santa Cruz includes the districts of Carmel, Bybrook and a part of Santa Cruz Park. To the northwest is New River. The southern limits extend over parts of Burnt Ground, Sevens Corner and Northhampton. The eastern boundary encompasses Longwood and parts of Lovely Point.