No more money for 'feel-good projects'
Published:Friday | July 22, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer
The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is to cease funding holiday projects submitted by members of parliament for which no solid benefit will be achieved, according to Moveta Munroe, executive director of the unit based in the Office of the Prime Minister.
The unit was forced to offer a last-minute compromise to St Catherine East Central Member of Parliament (MP), Natalie Neita Headley, of $1.5 million instead of the $2 million she was seeking for a three-day festival dubbed 'Emancifest'.
The CDF was opposed to sanctioning the project, which led to a quarrel two weeks ago at the parliamentary committee meeting. At that meeting, Munroe clashed with Neita Headley and MP Derrick Kellier, the two of whom were seeking more than $6 million to fund projects culminating around Independence Day.
Munroe called it "feel good money" and earned the ire of the two MPs, while receiving support from at least two others.
During Tuesday's meeting, however, the committee was told that a compromise had been reached, but no similar project would be entertained in the future.
"The unit decided to fund the project, because it would have been a major embarrassment for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). The projects were on the JCDC's agenda, so during consultation with our office and theirs, we tried to find out how much they could live with for the projects," Munroe told The Gleaner after the committee meeting.
According to her, this is the last year that such projects will be funded.
The committee's chair, Everald Warmington, said guidelines must be established about the types of projects to be funded.
"I believe we need to circulate the guidelines to members to ensure that going forward we are guided totally by the guideline. If we follow the guidelines, I don't think we will have a problem.
Guidelines being finalised
Munroe said guidelines were currently being finalised.
"We are waiting on one amendment that is very minor. The amendment we are waiting on is to include the approved financial institutions, which would include credit unions ... . I can circulate it today (Tuesday)," Munroe said.
Warmington, however, wants the document to be laid in the House as a ministry paper.
Neita Headley said it was imperative that all members of parliament, and not only members of the committee, be allowed to discuss the issue as the decision taken affected all.
Munroe said Kellier, who sought $4 million, to fund a "culture, arts and sports programme" will have to re-submit the project to the CDF unit.
She could not guarantee that it would be approved in time for Independence celebration.