Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday. (Photo: Llewelyn Wynter)
Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke on Wednesday further outlined plans regarding the government’s emphasis on public investments in hospitals, roads, and the transportation system.
Dr Clarke commenced the 2024/2025 budget debate on Tuesday, outlining plans to finance a $1 trillion budget to be invested over the next five years. Addressing a Post Cabinet press briefing, he highlighted the unprecedented economic stability experienced by the country, underscoring the necessity for budget allocations that directly benefit the Jamaican populace.
For the upcoming fiscal year starting in April, Dr Clarke announced the simultaneous construction of four hospitals—a first in Jamaica’s history. These hospitals include the rehabilitation of the Cornwall Regional Hospital and the establishment of the Western Children and Adolescent Hospital, both currently under construction.
“I spoke about the public investments that we will be making in this year and they are quite significant. We are building four hospitals at the same time, there is no precedent in Jamaica’s history for that… Four hospitals, Spanish Town hospital brand new, Western Adolescent Hospital brand new, six storey hospital at UWI— which will take a few years to be built— brand new and the rehabilitation of the Cornwall Regional Hospital,” the minister said.
The construction cost for the four hospitals in this fiscal year’s budget is $11.4 billion, with an additional $16 billion allocated in next year’s budget.
He added that investments will also be made in crime-fighting initiatives as two “crime hot spots” will be established in St Catherine and Westmoreland.
“We are leveraging the public investment capacity of the government to solve other problems as well. We are building in St Catherine and in Westmoreland, two hot spots for crime – well-equipped, well-resourced divisional headquarters that will help the police force in the management and execution of their functions in those areas,” Dr Clarke disclosed.
The construction cost for these headquarters is estimated at $882 million and $900 million, respectively, spanning both this year’s and next year’s budgets.
Infrastructure development remains a priority, with ongoing construction on the Montego Bay perimeter road in St James, budgeted at $10.2 billion. Additionally, $6.2 billion has been allocated for the continuation of the South Coast Highway, extending from Harbour View to Portland.
In the transportation sector, Dr Clarke pledged the acquisition of 100 new buses by the 2024 back-to-school season to address public transportation challenges. An allocation of $2.6 billion has been made for the purchase of these buses, with an additional 100 buses planned for the following fiscal year.
“A big pain point in our society is the transportation system. It is a system that requires us to have public investments in buses available. Over three years—beginning last year— we are going to have the biggest purchase of buses that the JUTC has had. Seventy new buses came in last year and I think at the tail end of the year before. We have allocated $2.6 billion this year for 100 buses to arrive prior to back to school. That will change the daily experience for the commuting public, and we have 100 other buses that we want for next fiscal year as well,” Dr Clarke stated.
Furthermore, the government intends to procure 50 garbage trucks to improve garbage collection services across the island.
