Finance committee completes estimates

PARLIAMENT'S Standing Finance Committee has completed the examination of the 2008-2009 estimates of expenditure and is due to put its final stamp on it on Thursday before sending it to the full House of Parliament later that day.

During the deliberations, which lasted nearly 40 hours, Industry Minister Karl Samuda said the Government was exploring ways to cut food prices.

He also said that the Government would be expanding the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education.

More to be added

According to Samuda, 115,000 persons will be added to the programme and the money allocated to each individual would be increased.

In addition, Government said that the free health-care policy implemented last Tuesday in all hospitals and health clinics could soon be extended to the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer told the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament on Wednesday that the new policy could apply to the regional training facility in Mona, St Andrew, if the University Council approves the move.

The deliberations on the Budget were marred by the use of unparliamentary language by Government minister Robert Montague. He referred to Opposition member Roger Clarke as dishonest, a statement for which he was forced to apologise after Prime Minister Bruce Golding insisted that he comply with the chairman's demand for an apology.

Also happening last week ...

User fees abolished

Jamaicans ceased paying user fees in hospitals and health centres on Tuesday as the Jamaica Labour Party government delivered one of its pre-election promises.

The Ministry of Health said it is expecting a 30 per cent increase in users at facilities across the island and claimed success after the first day of the abolition of user fees.

Cash Plus in turmoil

The five-year-old investment club Cash Plus Limited, which has been engaged in a number of legal battles over the past 12 months, is in receivership.

Kevin Bandoian, a chartered accountant employed to Price-WaterhouseCoopers in the United States, has been appointed joint receiver-manager.

More dough for bread

The prices of many grocery food items were increased last week after the cost of baking flour and rice jumped by 30 per cent.

The increases came after the Government's price-support programme ended on Monday.

In the midst of price increases, one chicken-meat provider advised that there would be a three per cent hike within a week.

Jamaican charged with bombing intent

Jamaican-born Kevin Brown, a 33-year-old United States green-card holder, of Ocala, Florida, was held about to board Air Jamaica flight 080 from Orlando to Montego Bay.

Green was said to be in possession of bomb-making materials.

A US court has ordered that the former US army man, who is said to be suffering from a mental condition, stand trial.