Jamaica
News - Real Estate - Sports
Source: The Jamaica Observer, Balford
Henry, February 23, 2007)
$8-b World Cup bill
The Government has committed just over $8 billion
for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 facilities and programmes, Parliament was told
on Tuesday.
Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Omar
Davies, made the disclosure in the House of Representatives in response to
questions tabled by the Opposition spokesman on sports, James Robertson.
Approximately 50 per cent of the funds have gone
into the building of the Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny and the upgrading of
Sabina Park in Kingston.
Other projects being paid for include the
Allman Town Culture Plaza; Trench Town Roots, Rock & Reggae; Falmouth FiWi
Food Festival; and Port Royal Food, History, Culture.
The Ministry of Health is upgrading seven
hospitals; the national security ministry is financing a national security plan;
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is replacing its 10-year-old protocol fleet of
vehicles; and the Ministry of Local Government is rehabilitating fire vehicles
and repairing stations.
However, there are likely to be overruns,
especially with the road improvement programme under the Ministry of Works,
covering South Camp Road, East Queen Street, North Street, and Elletson Road,
which has already been overspent by $46 million,
The total figure of $8.17 billion includes just
over $4 billion spent as capital expenditure on the construction of the
Greenfield Stadium and the upgrading of Sabina Park. Greenfield cost $2.015
billion, while Sabina Park cost $2.005 billion, making a total of $4.020
billion.
In addition, $4.024 billion was spent on other
projects and/or programmes under various ministries.
The Office of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet
Office are jointly spending $226 million on projects to be carried out by
Insports and the Social Development Commission, the Jamaica Information Service
and JAMPRO.
The Ministry of Tourism is spending $117
million through the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Tourism Product Development
Company (TPDCo).
The Ministry of Finance and Planning is
responsible for $1.27 billion in grants to Jamaica Cricket 2007, the local
organising committee; the Ministry of National Security for $376 million,
including $151 million for immigration services; the Ministry of Health, $299
million; the Ministry of Local Government and the Environment, $206 million; the
Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, $233 million; the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, $22 million; and the Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy
and Commerce, $12 million.
In addition, Dr Davies told the House that an
additional $170 million has been committed by the Urban Development Corporation
for improvements to downtown Kingston, including St William Grant Park, while
the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation has undertaken to light up Ocean
Boulevard and fix a number of roads in the city.
The figures, however, did not include some $630
million which is being spent on the current islandwide beautification programme,
nor well over $500,000 which is expected to be handed over to the Ministry of
Health by the National Health Fund (NHF).
Dr Davies confirmed Tuesday that the NHF would
make a contribution to the Ministry of Health's expenditure, but gave no figure.
He also gave figures for the beautification projects which are being financed
through the TPDCo between Port Royal in Kingston and the Jose Marti High School
in St Catherine.
It is likely that the additional expenditure will
be explained in the Supplementary Estimates, which Davies is to table next
Tuesday.
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