Above: Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Jamaica’s government will be moving ahead with its Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme, or JEEP, despite an apparent limited amount of funds available.

Funding for the programme is provided by the sometimes-controversial Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme, which is funded by a loan facility from China — but Works Minister Dr Omar Davies said $398 million of the $400 million allocated to the JDIP had already been used.

“Although the actual level of funding, which remains uncommitted and thus available for re-allocation, is still to be ascertained, I wish to assure members of this House and the country that JEEP will be implemented and there will be no increase to the existing budget for JDIP,” Davies said.

The JEEP plan, first announced by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller during the election plan, aims to stimulate employment growth in the short and medium term.

Alleged mismanagement of the JDIP led to the resignation of former Works Minister Mike Henry in November.