Photo caption:  Matthew Samuda (fifth left, from row), minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creration with responsibility  for water, environment, climate change, and the blue and green economies, shared a photo moment with grantees at he recent signing ceremony.

The Centre for Marine Sciences (CMS) at the Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, received significant grant funding of approximately 9.2 million aimed at enhancing its infrastructure and advancing sustainability initiatives for its two marine laboratories in January 2025.

A grant valued at J$4,189,190.00 was officially approved and signed, courtesy of the Sandals Foundation, for the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory (DBML) Outreach Hallway and Conference Room Improvement Project. This investment will support much-needed upgrades to the facilities, enhancing the Centre’s capacity to host academic events, community outreach activities, and stakeholder engagements.

In addition, on January 23rd, the Port Royal Marine Laboratory (PRML) received J$5,000,000 in funding under the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project, made possible through the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) via the Special Climate Change Adaptation Fund. This project marks a pivotal step in the CMS’s efforts to integrate sustainable practices into its operations. Ms. Chauntelle Green represented the Centre at the official signing ceremony for the project.

Photo caption: Ms. Chauntelle Green with Ms. Eleanor Jones from EFJ 

These initiatives reinforce the CMS’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability, and community engagement. The Centre extends sincere thanks to the Sandals Foundation, the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, and all partners involved for their generous support.

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