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Work Plan for the Preparation of National Sustainable
Development Plan
1.1 Project Strategy and Implementation Arrangements
1.2 Project Strategy
Development and capital infrastructure investment projects
are implemented on a sectoral basis. This sector approach fails to integrate
the impacts of the activities of the different sectors. Consequently,
land and its natural resources are utilised in an ad-hoc manner, often
resulting in wastage of physical and economic resources. Moreover, development
is only perceived in an economic dimension, without any consideration
be given of the spatial location of development activities, the population
size and the settlement structure which will absorb the goods and services
being provided. Furthermore, there is no single plan for Jamaica that
integrates the activities of the different sectors and simultaneously
provides a holistic view of all the dimensions of development, while ensuring
that sustainable development is achieved in a manner that employs environmental
protection and conservation measures. This the National Sustainable Development
Plan will achieve, given that the operational strategic approach is adopted.
Therefore, the objective of this project
is to provide the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) with
a National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) in order to allow the Agency
to play a more effective role in guiding developmental projects. The encompassing
strategy that will be used for the preparation of the NSDP is an integrative
and comprehensive approach to the planning and development process, rather
than a sectoral planning approach. This strategic approach will
ensure that the different dimensions to the development process are interlinked
throughout the entire process, (See Figure 1) within a spatial structure.
To facilitate the overall
strategic approach, a Steering Committee will be established
to assist in managing and reviewing the research papers constituting the
National Sustainable Development Plan. The Steering Committee will consist
of members of various public and private agencies stakeholders.
The Steering Committee is particularly important because the development
process consist of different stakeholders: public agencies within
central and local government, private agencies and civil societies (e.g.
Parish Development Committees – PDC, Community Based Organisations
- CBO). All these stakeholders have differing interest and capabilities
and their operations will be affected by planning and development policies
and strategies formulated within the NSDP. Therefore, it is only prudent
to include suitable representatives from the various agencies, NGO and
civil societies. The members of the Steering Committee will contribute
information and expertise to the preparation of the NSDP. Likewise, the
cooperation of some stakeholders is required for the implementation of
the NSDP.
Apart from the management
function of the Steering Committee, additional responsibilities include:
ü
provide broad policy advice and direction;
ü
finalise the policies and strategies developed
by the consultants and to determine if additional work is required; and
ü
help ensure and coordinate timely allocation
of financial and personnel resources required for completion of the project;
ü
finalise on the scope of the terms of
reference for the research papers to be sub-contracted;
ü
ensure effective inter-institutional and
inter-organisational cooperation, at both the policy and operational levels.
At the operational level, research papers
will be prepared by the National Spatial Planning and Research Branch
(NSPRB), ENACT, Environmental branches, and ad-hoc consultants on a part-time
basis. The research papers and policies developed by the NSPRB, other
branches within NEPA and ENACT, will first be reviewed by a Technical
Working Group. This group will consist of members with technical expertise
on the sector topic, from private and public sector agencies within central
and local government, NGOs, and civil societies. Based on the outcome
from the Technical Working Group, the agreed policies and strategies will
be presented to the Steering Committee for final review before engaging
in public consultation, (See Figure 2.0). The community based organisations
and parish development committees will form a vital “needs building
platform”, which will assist in shaping the visions for Jamaica through
the NSDP.
To facilitate the public
participatory process, a total of 16 public participation sessions will
be held at different parishes throughout the plan preparation stages.
These meetings will be organised by the local planning authority and the
respective parish development committee. Based on research from each sector
topics, policies and strategies will be developed by the consultants (for
sub-contracts), NSPRB &/or ENACT for discussion with the working groups
before approval by the Steering Committee and the Town & Country Planning
Authority. After completion of the first and second drafts, further consultation
will be held at Local Planning Authorities and on NEPA website. It is
anticipated that the project lifetime will be 12 calendar months. The
overall management and coordination of the project will be the responsibility
of the National Spatial Planning and Research Branch with the assistance
of the Town & Country Planning Authority, the Director for the Planning
and Development Division (NEPA), the Chief Executive Officer of the National
Planning and Environment Agency (See Figure 2.0).
Implementing (management) Arrangements
Components of the Plan
Explanations of some of the
main components of the National Physical Plan are as outlined below:
ü
The Manufacturing Industry – assessing the present and future spatial dimensional requirements
for the manufacturing sector, opportunities needed for resuscitating the
industry and the anticipated employment and GDP provisions expected within
the next twenty years.
ü
Commerce & Retailing New – In order
to promote and sustain economic growth, studies relating to commerce will
investigate the location of commercial, office and retail developments,
projections for the allocation of lands for the commerce sector over a
20yr. period, obstacles affecting the sector, opportunities, their operational
impacts on the environment, present and future creation of employment
and the contribution of the sector towards the GDP of Jamaica.
ü
Designing out Crime New – In
an attempt to assist in curtailing criminal activities, which are hindering
the economic growth and development of the country, this study has been
designed as a new component of the National Development Plan. It is anticipated
that the planning system should be instrumental in the creation of a safe
and secure environment by assisting in discouraging anti-social behaviour.
Important issues that will be addressed are the layout of new residential
developments, the arrangement of playfields, open spaces in towns, villages
and communities, the number of entrances and exits to developments, lighting
in high risk areas, fostering of joint community based initiatives/activities
etc. This study will be closely integrated with the income generating
sectors with the attempt to ensure that meaningful local employment is
provided.
ü
Development Patterns New – Have recent patterns
of development made the best use of land? How do different patterns of
development impact on the transportation network (streets) and other utilities
(water and sewer)? Given past trends where is development likely to occur
within the next 5, 10 and 20 years. Given the rate of urbanisation and
the associated problems, policies and strategies need to be developed
to address the urban area in terms of growth and development. On the contrary,
the countryside is continuously robbed of its youthful population, and
agricultural lands are transferred to residential purposes, thereby reducing
the economic viability of the countryside while promoting urban sprawl.
Likewise, it is useful to prepare policies and strategies for preserving
the countryside.
ü
Macroeconomics New – sources of growth, performance
of the key sectors towards national growth and development, external trades,
export and importation policies, balance of payments and government finances,
Jamaica’s new thrust in foreign trade - implications and opportunities
of a single economic space in CARICOM, free Trade Area of the Americas
(FTAA) and ACP/EC Partnership Agreement.
ü
Environmental Management & Protection
– the nature of the island ecosystem, governing principles of conservation
and protection, impacts of development programmes and projects on the
environment, mitigation measures that are required, policies and programmes
for achieving a balance between the natural environment and built environment,
protection of water resources, foul sewerage facilities, solid waste disposal
systems, watershed management, identification of conservation areas and
policies for ensuring their protection, pollution and contamination by
nutrient enrichment from sewage effluent and fertiliser run-off etc.
ü
Integrated Coastal Development New – the
aim is to promote sustainable and equitable utilization of the nation’s
coastal resources while maintaining their productivity and biodiversity.
This component will look at designating coastal zones, investigate the
impacts of shoreline construction such as marina, over fishing, general
pressure on fish and their food supply and impacts on non-targeted species,
human disturbance on reefs etc, coastal zone management strategy, summary
of the ocean & coastal zone policy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs &
NEPA’s coastal zone branch), management of sea grass, wetlands etc.
This component will also address the effect of the activities proposed
by the tourism sector for the coastal areas, the degree to which the proposals
will affect coastal resources such as mangroves, coral reefs, fisheries,
water quality (e.g. sewage etc). The activities of the different sectors
will be considered in a holistic and integrated manner and not independently
on a sectoral basis.
ü
Housing - the provision
of sufficient and affordable housing is one of the most critical problems
facing Jamaica, particularly within major urban centres. This has given
rise to spontaneous residential development, more commonly termed as,
“Squatting”. This component will address the problems affecting
the housing sector, government policies, the implications of the Housing
Act on the planning and approval process, (including environmental effects).
It will also be important to assess the housing requirements and supply
balance, housing density and standards, regulatory agencies and the housing
market.
ü
Tourism & Recreation – the characteristic and the diversification of the tourism industry,
factors affecting the tourism sector: global competitions, terrorism,
international policies etc, approaches to be adopted to ensure sustainability
of the industry, contribution of tourism towards national growth and development,
spatial distribution of tourism packages, opportunities for generating
new tourism products and development policies & strategies for the
sector based upon a 20yr. projection.
ü
Implementation, Monitoring, Governance
& Institutional Arrangements New – this section will look at the
implementation and management process of activities of the different sectors,
the timing of their activities and the contributions from the different
government regulatory bodies. The issue of governance is a serious problem
especially at the local level – which government entity has legislative
jurisdiction at the local level to ensure that standards and guidelines
are implemented and monitored, what is the significance of line agencies
to the governance mechanism, how does the PDCs, CBOs and NGOs and environmental
groups fit within the governance structure and how will an integrative
and cooperative mechanism be realised, what is the framework for planning
and development at the national and local level and how do they integrate.
ü
Social Services & Community
Development –
this component will assess the spatial dimension of the educational facilities,
international contributions to the educational system, the adequacy of
educational facility based upon population size, structure and Jamaica’s
settlement strategy. The health sector will also be assessed as to the
characteristics of health facilities provided, government health policies,
future health requirements, and the impact of AIDS/HIV on the health sector.
Additionally, this component will assess the provision of library facilities,
fire stations, nursing homes and homes for the aged, police protection,
fire stations and youth and community centres, opportunities for integrated
community development, skills training and the transfer of “sweat
equity” towards development of the community and the nation in general.
ü
Natural Hazards & Disaster Management
New – Jamaica is prone to a number of
natural hazards, such as hurricane and earthquakes. Consequently, this
component will look at the natural hazards that may affect Jamaica, preparing
a natural hazard assessment, vulnerability assessment, and risk analysis
and the need for an evacuation plan. Addition this study will identify
flood prone/flood risk areas, identification of critical shelter areas,
the importance of disaster management to the objectives of the NSDP, the
incorporation of disaster management to the planning process (institutional
requirements – diagrammatic representation).
Composition of the Steering Committee
- Planning Institute of Jamaica
- Ministry of Local Government and Community Development
- Kingston & Saint Andrew Corporation
- Parish Councils (St. James, St. Ann & Portland)
- Ministry of Land & Environment
- Ministry of Water & Housing
- STATIN
- Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Technology
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Ministry of Transport & Works
- Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture
- PDC (St. James, Manchester, Portland)
- Director for Planning & Development (NEPA)
- CEO (NEPA) & Deputy CEO
- Environmental Foundation of Jamaica
- ENACT
- National Housing Trust
- Ministry of Mines & Geology
- ODPEM
- NEPA Branches (Land use, Local Area, Development Control, Watershed,
Coastal Zone, Biodiversity).
- Ministry of Tourism & Sport
- UDC
- Ministry of Finance & Planning
- Utech & UWI representatives
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