THE Ministry of Local Government and Environment has approved 356 projects for the islandwide beautification programme announced by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller last September.

Information Minister Donald Buchanan told journalists attending Monday’s weekly post-cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House that the programme will last for six months.

However, he said that most of the projects are expected to be permanent, suggesting an extension of the programme beyond the initial six months. About 12,000 workers will benefit in this phase and junior minister for Local Government and the Environment, Harry Douglas, has been given portfolio responsibility for the programme.

“We will see a marked difference in terms of the clean-up and beautification of the country, islandwide,” Buchanan commented.

He said that the ministry had received 1,097 proposals for projects to be financed by the programme, of which 356 were approved, 195 partially approved and 133 left in the “still possible” category. A number of projects are still subject to further review, some of which involve ‘bushing’, removing of derelict vehicles and road work to be executed by the National Works Agency (NWA). Some were rejected.

Answering questions from the media, the minister said that the selection was done by a committee appointed by the ministry. However, he could not say who chaired the committee, who are the members or what would be the total cost.

He said that the committee involved representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Water, among others.

Buchanan said that the committee examined all 1,097 proposals and came up with the 356 selected projects. The proposals came from members of parliament, councillors and community organisations.

He said that in order to benefit from employment on the projects, members of the public should seek to inform themselves about the availability of work within their communities.

The programme was first announced by the prime minister at the People’s National Party’s (PNP) annual conference in September. She said that it would cost $635 million.