4-billion for JEEP

The Portia Simpson Miller led government Tuesday declared that it has found at least 4-billion dollars for the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme, JEEP.

It also confirmed that the programme would start before the current fiscal year ends on March 31 this year.

In its campaign for Jamaica House, the PNP made the bold promise of reallocating twenty five percent of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme, JDIP budget to fund JEEP.

But then mere weeks ago it revealed that almost all the JDIP money has already been spent fuelling questions about whether the JEEP  would ever get started.

But Tuesday, the finance minister met the media with this news.

Dr. Peter Phillips had just ended a lengthy statement about the economy and the news wasn't good.

Revenues are down; grants below expectation and spending up so cuts are coming.

But Dr. Phillips and the information minister Sandrea Falconer had fuelled questions by then about whether the money would come from the National Housing Trust.

Questions arising from the fact that an inter ministerial committee has been set up to see how the NHT can - quoting Sandrea Falconer "contribute to employment, economic growth and meeting the housing needs."

So journalists wanted to know whether the NHT would be one source of funds.

But the country will have to wait for Transport, Works and Housing Minister Dr. Omar Davies to outline details in Parliament.