Gov’t Places Priority on Improving Public Safety

Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, says the National Security Ministry’s 2019/20 budgetary allocation of $20.2 billion reflects the priority being placed by the Government on improving public safety.

The provision, which is 28 per cent of the Central Government’s $72.1 billion programmed capital expenditure, is the largest Ministerial provision earmarked for the new fiscal year.

It represents a $7.5 billion or 61 per cent increase over the provision in the 2018/19 revised Estimates.

Dr. Clarke, who outlined details of the expenditure as he opened the Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday (March 7), said the allocation will facilitate implementation of new and ongoing projects under the Government’s Plan Secure Jamaica initiative.

These include: $2.9 billion to complete the final phase of the Jamaica Defence Force’s (JDF) Lathbury Barracks and phase one of Burke Barracks in Montego Bay, and upgrading of the Moneague Training Camp in St. Ann; $11.8 billion to continue acquisition of general and specialised equipment, including: coastal surveillance, telecommunications and cybersecurity tools, and aircraft and ships for the security forces; $1.8 billion to acquire patrol and other security vehicles, including approximately 1,000 motor vehicles for improved Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) mobility; $1 billion to renovate 60 police stations islandwide, and commence construction of an autopsy suite in Kingston; and $393 million to construct and improve correctional facilities.

“The dedication of significant resources to national security arises out of the Government’s conviction that the high incidence of violent crime is a significant source of inequity in Jamaica. If we care about equity and justice, we must care about national security, not for some, but for all,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Clarke said the second largest capital budgetary allocation of $18.4 billion will facilitate major infrastructure works being implemented by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

This includes: $4.8 billion to complete works along Mandela Highway in St. Catherine, Constant Spring Road and Hagley Park Road in Kingston, and the Ferris to Mackfield Road in Westmoreland under the Major Infrastructure Development Programme (MIDP); and $586 million to continue civil works on the Broadgate to Aqualta Road in St, Mary, and achieve 100 per cent project completion during 2019/20.

A sum of $8.4 billion is also provided for land acquisition, design, supervision and commencement of civil works along the south eastern road corridors and the May Pen to Williamsfield leg of the East-West Highway under the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP); $950 million to commence major development works in Montego Bay.

In addition, $3.7 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Health, with added support of $2 billion from the National Health Fund (NHF). Dr. Clarke indicated that $1 billion of the $3.7 billion is earmarked to fund rehabilitation works at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.