House Approves Supplementary Estimates

Parliament yesterday (March 17) approved the second Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year ending March 31, which were tabled in the House on Tuesday (March 16) by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon Audley Shaw.
The Supplementary Estimates were referred to the standing Finance Committee of the whole House of Representatives (all 60 MPs) for deliberation and report Wednesday afternoon, prior to the sitting at which it was approved.
Mr. Shaw announced that the Supplementary Estimates have increased the Budget by $31.5 billion, primarily due to the pay out of interest under the recently concluded Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX) programme.
Parliament will be prorogued on Monday to pave the way for the State Opening of the 2010/11 Session on Thursday, March 25, beginning at 11:00 a.m., when the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, will deliver the Throne Speech, and Minister Shaw will table the 2010/11 Estimates of Expenditure.