Social Protection Programmes to be strengthened
June 7, 2012The Full Story
A team from the country’s multilateral partners will be visiting the island at the Government’s request on June 26, to begin planning for enhancement of the social protection programmes.
Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, made the announcement in the House of Representatives today, as he closed the 2012/2013 Budget Debate.
Dr. Phillips noted that the administration had, despite the limited resources, found ways to protect the most vulnerable and marginalised in the economy, by increasing expenditure in targeted social sectors and programmes.
He pointed out that the Government would, in this fiscal period, spend $14.5 billion on programmes aimed at providing social protection for the vulnerable. “This represents an increase of $3.6 billion or 33.2 per cent over the last financial year,” he told the House.
The allocations include: the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), $4.2 billion; Community Renewal, $4.9 billion; School Feeding Programme, $3.6 billion; and others, $1.8 billion.
Dr. Phillips pointed out that the funds do not include the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) expenditure, which is $6 billion.
By Alphea Saunders, JIS Senior Reporter