Huge PR spending

THE BRUCE Golding administration appears to be cranking up its communication machinery this financial year with a more than 200 per cent increase in the amount allocated for public education.

Last year, the Government had set aside $4.7 million in the Estimates of Expenditure for public education and communication. This fiscal year, the sum has jumped to $14.3 million.

A breakdown of the areas of expenditure indicates that staffing would be significantly boosted at the Communications Unit at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Last year, the amount spent to compensate employees was a little more than a million dollars. However, this fiscal year the sum has moved to $6.8 million.

The amount earmarked for travelling expenses has also increased from $170,000 last year to nearly $3 million in the new financial year.

The communications department in the Office of the Prime Minister has responsibility for coordinating the delivery of information from the ministries and agencies of government.

Meanwhile, the Government has set aside $50 million in this year's Budget to fund the Jamaica 50 celebrations.

Next year, the country will observe its 50th year of Independence and a plethora of activities are being planned to mark the occasion.