MINISTER of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna told Parliament Tuesday that a "broad-based" steering committee "chaired by an eminent Jamaican" is being formed to oversee implementation of the Jamaica 50 programme.

She said that this followed a meeting involving Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Holness and her. However, Opposition sources told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that they were only aware of discussions between the leaders on the creation of legacy projects which are expected to contribute to stimulating the economy.

Opposition sources also expressed surprise at the announcement of a "broad-based committee" to be chaired by an "eminent Jamaican" and including "two persons" from the Opposition, to oversee implementation of the celebrations.

Hanna told the House Tuesday that the committee would also include representatives of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, the Jamaica Council of Churches, the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission.

She said that the Government has $688.5 million to finance a "fully developed and fully funded" Jamaica 50 celebration programme, with $366.5 million coming from the Consolidated Fund and $322 million from private sector and public bodies.

Over the next four weeks, the minister said, there will be a Jamaica 50 event on every day, leading into the official celebratory period, August 1 to 6.

"The Ministry of Local Government is now working in earnest with the parish councils to decorate parish capitals with our national colours, and the Constituency Development Programme (CDF) has approved a range of $150,000 to $250,000 for each MP to stage a community event during this period," she told the House.