Jamaica has launched a new phase of the Bauxite Community Development Programme (BCDP), marking three decades of sustained efforts to channel mining revenues back into communities located near the country’s bauxite operations. The official launch of Phase VIII took place on March 4, with an allocation of USD 400 million to support projects across Jamaica’s traditional bauxite-producing parishes. The programme will continue to fund initiatives in agriculture, education, infrastructure and community development, reinforcing the country’s long-standing focus on ensuring that mining activity contributes to local development.

The milestone is being observed under the theme ‘BCDP at 30: Building Communities and Empowering Futures’, reflecting the programme’s three decades of engagement with communities tied to Jamaica’s bauxite industry.

Mining revenues reinvested in communities

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green highlighted the programme’s original purpose which is to ensure that wealth generated from the mining sector benefits the communities that host these operations.

“Whatever wealth that we generate from our mining industries, we have to have a structure to ensure that that wealth finds its way back into the communities. The BCDP has been that structure,” he added.

Mr. Green noted that over the past 30 years, the programme has supported projects spanning agriculture, education and healthcare, helping strengthen livelihoods and services in mining communities. He also emphasised that transparency and accountability will remain central to the programme’s future implementation.

“We are trying to ensure that in this future of mining, transparency and accountability are at the forefront. We don’t want you to guess where the resources are being spent and the sort of impact we’re having,” he added.

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Agriculture expansion and hurricane recovery efforts

Agriculture will remain a major focus of the programme’s latest phase, particularly through the expansion of protected farming initiatives.

Mr. Green said additional greenhouse clusters will be rolled out across several communities. “We plan to establish an additional 80 greenhouses, possibly as many as 120, organised into clusters across 12 communities, with 10 greenhouses in each community,” the Minister stated.

At the same time, the programme will also address damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, which affected greenhouse infrastructure previously established under BCDP initiatives.

“Coming from Hurricane Melissa, about 91 of our greenhouses that we established were damaged. As such, under the Ministry’s Hurricane Recovery Fund, we’re allocating $66 million to repair all of those greenhouses so we can have those clusters functioning again,” the Minister said.

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Programme builds on 30 years of investment

Industry stakeholders also highlighted the programme’s governance structure and its agricultural achievements over the years. Speaking through BCDP Advisory Board Member Samara South, Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) Chairman Dave Powell said the new phase reflects the programme’s long-term vision.

Highlighting the programme’s agricultural impact, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Managing Director Omar Sweeney said more than 180 greenhouses have been developed since 2010, with over 800 farmers expected to benefit.

“As long as we can remain successful, this programme will grow until we have sheltered infrastructure greenhouses in every single parish across Jamaica,” he stated.

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