Daraine Luton and Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporters

Shaw (left) and Davies (right)

DAYS AWAY from the tabling of the first budget estimates since forming the government last September, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration is not worried about keeping its pre-election promises.

Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, said Cabinet had intensely deliberated the budget and was satisfied with its plans.

"I am not feeling pressured, no. Cabinet has worked at it and I think we are satisfied," Shaw disclosed.

The budget estimates for the 2008-2009 fiscal year will be tabled in the House of Representatives on Thursday, March 27. It is expected to be greater than the 2007-2008 Budget, crafted by Dr Omar Davies, which started at $380.3 billion, but increased to $404.9 billion following two subsequent supplementary estimates.

Davies says the Opposition People's National Party is working on its presentations for the debates, but would not disclose what would be included. He, however, hinted that the Government would be reminded of its pre-election promises.

"They made commitments to the country, but let him make his presentation," Davies quipped.

Crafting a budget is a very difficult task as there are several sectors competing for limited resources. This, said Davies, who made 14 consecutive presentations as minister of finance, is something that Shaw will have to deal with.

Davies told The Sunday Gleaner his job "is not to pre-empt him (Shaw). I am giving him as much space as possible. Nobody can say that I am hassling him. I am not doing anything to impede his progress."

2007-2008 Budget

Finance: $233.8 billion ($11.2 billion less)

Education: $47B ($3b more)

Housing: $17.7 billion ($8.9 billion more)

Health: $21 billion ($1.5 billion more)

National Security: $29.2 billion ($3.4 billion more)

Local Government: $7 billion ($700 million more)

Figures compared to 2005/2006 Budget.