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$28-billion decrease in capital spending hurts some ministries

Among the projects hit by huge reductions are: the much-anticipated south coast highway; the purchase of new Coast Guard surveillance vessels; Western Children Adolescent Hospital; the farm roads programme; access to financing for medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs); construction of new tax offices; and the acquisition of vehicles, repairs to stations, and purchase of telecommunications equipment for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information had its capital programme cut from $1.4 billion to $633 million, primarily due to a $692 million reduction in the capital funding for the Primary and Secondary (Schools) Infrastructure Programme.

In the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, capital spending of approximately $2 billion for the acquisition of fixed assets, mainly the final payment on 30 new fire units, was reduced to $837 million.

There has been a $2.5-billion reduction in capital spending in the Office of the Prime Minister, mainly due to reduced spending on a number of programmes, including the Jamaica Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, down $580 million; the Basic Needs Trust Fund ($425 million); and the Integrated Community Development Project ($220 million).

In the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, there are reductions for the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project ($6.6 billion); Montego Bay Perimeter Road ($3.2 billion); Montego Bay Closed Harbour Beach ($267 million): Montego Bay Waterfront Protection Project ($327 million); the Credit Enhancement Programme ($419 million); the Access to Finance for MSMEs ($260 million); and Boosting Innovation Growth and Entrepreneur Ecosystems ($385 million).

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