MONTEGO BAY, St James -  Principals for the Barrett Town All-Age and Granville Primary and Infant schools in St James are ecstatic about the new infrastructure built under the 'Safe Passages: Safe Routes to School' initiative guided by the Complete Streets Policy, which forms part of the Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP).

The project forms part of a US$42-million World Bank-funded initiative which is being implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) over a five-year period.

The Safer Route to Schools initiative is aimed at improving travel safety by making better conditions for bicycling, walking, and public transportation.

Under the project, some eight school communities islandwide are expected to benefit.

Principal of the Granville Primary and Infant School, Ann-Marie Brown, told the Jamaica Observer West that the project is welcomed and highly appreciated, even though her students have not started to use the newly implemented safe passage due to closure of school plant as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“There was indeed a deep concern for our students' safety because this area is a busy thoroughfare for vehicular traffic. So on behalf of the board, the principal, the staff and students of the Granville Primary and Infant School, we want to extend a heartfelt thanks to JSIF as they continue their work in nation-building in seeking to ensure the safety of our students on the road,” said Brown.

Anthony Murray, principal of Barrett Town All- Age, also in St James, where the first programme was completed earlier this year, stated that the initiative has enhanced the aesthetical value of the community.