No plans to trim critical services in Jamaica

Wednesday, January 21, 2004

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Despite the need to cut costs to bring about a balanced budget, Jamaican Prime Minister P. J. Patterson has assured the nation there are no plans to trim critical services, such as health and education, or vital development projects.

Development projects to remain on track, include Segment II and III of the North Coast Highway; airport modernization; cruise port development and beautification projects in the tourism plan. 

He noted that these were some of the projects that would continue to receive "top priority" in the capital budgets of the Central Government and public sector agencies. 

Mr. Patterson said that "some of the new investments which we are now attracting, are the direct result of what we have done in improving and expanding major infrastructural works over the preceding years. And we are very confident that we are going to see significant expansion, particularly in tourism and in the alumina industry".

He also added that while the government had to contain expenditure and borrowing, "we are not focussing on that and that alone. As we do so, we are also going for sustained and increased growth, that will contribute positively to our fiscal goals". 

"We have an obligation to the Jamaican people, to maintain certain services," the Prime Minister emphasised. 

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