Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
THE MINISTRY of National Security yesterday revealed that its public entities owed suppliers $590 million in arrears as a result of inadequate funding from the Ministry of Finance.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Gilbert Scott, made the disclosure at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at Gordon House.
A breakdown of the arrears shows the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) owing suppliers $342 million; the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), $104 million; and the Department of Correctional Services, $75. 4 million.
Deputy financial secretary for public expenditure in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Rolda Grey, stressed that each ministry had to be prudent in the management of its affairs.
"We have been constantly saying to our ministries, 'please try and live within the available resources'."
ARREARS WOULD BE CLEARED UP
She, however, sought to assure the PAC that the arrears owed by ministries would be cleared up.
But Mr. Scott said the arrears had adversely affected the day-to-day operation of the entities and that it was difficult to cut and carve when there was a crisis.
"When there is a shortage, you cannot feed the men and women of the services ... when the JDF is called upon to be constantly out there in support of the JCF, you have to maintain their operational capabilities," he said.
