Tweet
published: Sunday | March 30, 2008
From left, Robertson, Robinson, Clarke and Rhodd
Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
Members of Parliament, although anticipating at least $150 million per constituency, have welcomed the reduced amount in the 2008-2009 Budget allocated to the newly established Constituency Develop-ment Fund. Prime Minister Bruce Golding had earlier disclosed in Parliament that his administration would not be in a position to honour the election campaign promise of making available 2.5 per cent of the total Budget to each constituency.
Only half of a per cent of this year's Budget has been allocated to this fund. In monetary terms, $2.46 billion has been set aside for the Constituency Development Fund. When shared equally among the 60 constituencies, each member of Parliament (MP) will get approximately $40 million to spend on projects.
In reacting to the reduced allocation, Opposition MP Roger Clarke says, $40 million is "chicken feed in terms of the needs of a constituency like Central West-moreland".
Although he welcomes the allocation, Clarke says the fact that many persons were told during last year's election campaign that MPs would be getting approximately $150 million to spend, means there are great expectations.
"What it does is that it puts you in a little bit more trouble," Clarke tells The Sunday Gleaner. "One hundred and fifty million dollars is not a bad change to do some of the things that you want to do, but when you cut it down to $40 million, (it is less effective)," Clarke says.
The seven-month old Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government tabled a $489-billion budget on Thursday, 23 per cent more than last year's. Clarke says that when he gets his allocation, it would be spent on rehabilitating parish council and farm roads, basic schools, setting up training facilities, and starting self-help projects throughout his constituency.
Proposals
Shahine Robinson, junior minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, who has responsibility for the Constituency Development Fund, discloses that MPs will have to submit project proposals before the constituency benefits from the allocation.
"They have to engage their community and come up with projects that the community wants," Robinson tells The Sunday Gleaner. She explains that when the proposals are received, they are sent to the Constituency Development Fund Unit where they are evaluated. If the project is approved, it is sent to a parliamentary committee where final approval is given.
However, money from the fund will not go into the hands of the MPs, Robinson explains. Instead, implementation of projects will be done through various government agencies. For example, if road rehabilitation is a project, the National Works Agency or the parish council will implement the project.
Government MP Robert Montague says Western St Mary is anxious about its allocation. Unlike Clarke, he believes that $40 million is a great deal of money, most of which will be channeled into the establishment of a central processing unit for chickens.
"It will operate like a cottage industry. You give the chicken to people, mainly single mothers, and buy it back from them, process it, package it and sell it," Montague discloses. He says that a major problem in chicken rearing is the difficulty small farmers often experience in marketing the meat. The processing unit will help solve this problem.
Montague also says that a portion of the allocation will be going towards implementing literacy programmes in order to address the 34 per cent illiteracy rate in his constituency. He also plans to erect four skills-training facilities.
Major concern
East Portland MP Dr Donald Rhodd says he eagerly awaits his constituency allocation even though it is far below the expected amount.
"It is a start and any such attempt must be applauded," Rhodd says, adding that half of the promised $150 million would have been a better start.
The rehabilitation and upgrade of road infrastructure is a major concern in East Portland but Rhodd says the money would be swallowed up if he were to undertake any two major infrastructure projects. Rhodd, an Opposition MP, says his constituents have already made it clear how they want the anticipated funds to be spent. They have settled on 17 projects, many of them income generating. He adds that money will also be spent on education, culture and sports.
James Robertson, the JLP representative in West St Thomas, says some of his allocation will go towards repairing and completing community centres.
"You won't hear any lofty goals from me; I am about fixing and completing," Robertson states.
He adds effecting minor repairs to health centres as a priority, as well as erecting small access bridges in various communities, which are marooned when there are heavy rains.
daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com
From left, Robertson, Robinson, Clarke and Rhodd
Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter
Members of Parliament, although anticipating at least $150 million per constituency, have welcomed the reduced amount in the 2008-2009 Budget allocated to the newly established Constituency Develop-ment Fund. Prime Minister Bruce Golding had earlier disclosed in Parliament that his administration would not be in a position to honour the election campaign promise of making available 2.5 per cent of the total Budget to each constituency.
Only half of a per cent of this year's Budget has been allocated to this fund. In monetary terms, $2.46 billion has been set aside for the Constituency Development Fund. When shared equally among the 60 constituencies, each member of Parliament (MP) will get approximately $40 million to spend on projects.
In reacting to the reduced allocation, Opposition MP Roger Clarke says, $40 million is "chicken feed in terms of the needs of a constituency like Central West-moreland".
Although he welcomes the allocation, Clarke says the fact that many persons were told during last year's election campaign that MPs would be getting approximately $150 million to spend, means there are great expectations.
"What it does is that it puts you in a little bit more trouble," Clarke tells The Sunday Gleaner. "One hundred and fifty million dollars is not a bad change to do some of the things that you want to do, but when you cut it down to $40 million, (it is less effective)," Clarke says.
The seven-month old Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government tabled a $489-billion budget on Thursday, 23 per cent more than last year's. Clarke says that when he gets his allocation, it would be spent on rehabilitating parish council and farm roads, basic schools, setting up training facilities, and starting self-help projects throughout his constituency.
Proposals
Shahine Robinson, junior minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, who has responsibility for the Constituency Development Fund, discloses that MPs will have to submit project proposals before the constituency benefits from the allocation.
"They have to engage their community and come up with projects that the community wants," Robinson tells The Sunday Gleaner. She explains that when the proposals are received, they are sent to the Constituency Development Fund Unit where they are evaluated. If the project is approved, it is sent to a parliamentary committee where final approval is given.
However, money from the fund will not go into the hands of the MPs, Robinson explains. Instead, implementation of projects will be done through various government agencies. For example, if road rehabilitation is a project, the National Works Agency or the parish council will implement the project.
Government MP Robert Montague says Western St Mary is anxious about its allocation. Unlike Clarke, he believes that $40 million is a great deal of money, most of which will be channeled into the establishment of a central processing unit for chickens.
"It will operate like a cottage industry. You give the chicken to people, mainly single mothers, and buy it back from them, process it, package it and sell it," Montague discloses. He says that a major problem in chicken rearing is the difficulty small farmers often experience in marketing the meat. The processing unit will help solve this problem.
Montague also says that a portion of the allocation will be going towards implementing literacy programmes in order to address the 34 per cent illiteracy rate in his constituency. He also plans to erect four skills-training facilities.
Major concern
East Portland MP Dr Donald Rhodd says he eagerly awaits his constituency allocation even though it is far below the expected amount.
"It is a start and any such attempt must be applauded," Rhodd says, adding that half of the promised $150 million would have been a better start.
The rehabilitation and upgrade of road infrastructure is a major concern in East Portland but Rhodd says the money would be swallowed up if he were to undertake any two major infrastructure projects. Rhodd, an Opposition MP, says his constituents have already made it clear how they want the anticipated funds to be spent. They have settled on 17 projects, many of them income generating. He adds that money will also be spent on education, culture and sports.
James Robertson, the JLP representative in West St Thomas, says some of his allocation will go towards repairing and completing community centres.
"You won't hear any lofty goals from me; I am about fixing and completing," Robertson states.
He adds effecting minor repairs to health centres as a priority, as well as erecting small access bridges in various communities, which are marooned when there are heavy rains.
daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com
Comment