The Government has slashed almost 50 per cent off the allocation for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), leaving each member of parliament with only $20 million to spend this fiscal year.

The first Supplementary Estimates of expenditure, tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, reflects an allocation of $1.26 billion for the CDF, down from the $2.46 billion which was initially allocated.

However, this should come as no surprise to members of parliament as Prime Minister Bruce Golding had previously signalled that the CDF could be reduced, despite being a main campaign promise of the Jamaica Labour Party in the lead-up to the 2007 general election.

"When the Ministry of Finance approaches the expenditure budget with its scalpel, we are going to protect health, education and security and the social safety net. As to what will happen with the CDF, which falls among the rest, I can't say at this stage," Golding had told journalists during a post-Cabinet media briefing almost two months ago.

"I know the value of it (the CDF) and I know the impact that it has had and we will certainly take that into account, but I cannot give any commitment that it will not have to make a contribution to bringing that fiscal deficit back in line."

With confirmation of the reduction coming on Tuesday, junior minister with responsibility for the CDF, Shahine Robinson, said the cut would not affect any project that has already started.

"The money for projects under the CDF is allocated in tranches, based on the approval of projects," Robinson told The Gleaner.

"What would happen is that the project would be approved and the money disbursed before the work would start," Robinson added.

Decide on priorities

She noted that members of parliament would now have to look at the projects which they had intended to do and decide on the priorities.

However, leader of opposition business in the House of Representatives, Derrick Kellier, said it would be difficult for MPs to make the choices.

Kellier had responded to the prime minister's warning two months ago by urging him to retain the CDF, even if the allocation were reduced.

Yesterday, Kellier told The Gleaner that the 50 per cent reduction was what he had suggested if the CDF was cut at all.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com