The Government has committed just over $8 billion for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 facilities and programmes, Parliament was told on Tuesday.

Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Omar Davies, made the disclosure in the House of Representatives in response to questions tabled by the Opposition spokesman on sports, James Robertson.

Approximately 50 per cent of the funds have gone into the building of the Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny and the upgrading of Sabina Park in Kingston.

Other projects being paid for include the Allman Town Culture Plaza; Trench Town Roots, Rock & Reggae; Falmouth FiWi Food Feast-ival; and Port Royal Food, History, Culture.

The Ministry of Health is upgrading seven hospitals; the national security ministry is financing a national security plan; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is replacing its 10-year-old protocol fleet of vehicles; and the Ministry of Local Government is rehabilitating fire vehicles and repairing stations.

However, there are likely to be overruns, especially with the road improvement programme under the Ministry of Works, covering South Camp Road, East Queen Street, North Street, and Elletson Road, which has already been overspent by $46 million,

The total figure of $8.17 billion includes just over $4 billion spent as capital expenditure on the construction of the Greenfield Stadium and the upgrading of Sabina Park. Greenfield cost $2.015 billion, while Sabina Park cost $2.005 billion, making a total of $4.020 billion.

In addition, $4.024 billion was spent on other projects and/or programmes under various ministries.

The Office of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Office are jointly spending $226 million on projects to be carried out by Insports and the Social Development Commission, the Jamaica Information Service and JAMPRO.

The Ministry of Tourism is spending $117 million through the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo).

The Ministry of Finance and Planning is responsible for $1.27 billion in grants to Jamaica Cricket 2007, the local organising committee; the Ministry of National Security for $376 million, including $151 million for immigration services; the Ministry of Health, $299 million; the Ministry of Local Government and the Environment, $206 million; the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, $233 million; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, $22 million; and the Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, $12 million.

In addition, Dr Davies told the House that an additional $170 million has been committed by the Urban Development Corporation for improvements to downtown Kingston, including St William Grant Park, while the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation has undertaken to light up Ocean Boulevard and fix a number of roads in the city.

The figures, however, did not include some $630 million which is being spent on the current islandwide beautification programme, nor well over $500,000 which is expected to be handed over to the Ministry of Health by the National Health Fund (NHF).

Dr Davies confirmed Tuesday that the NHF would make a contribution to the Ministry of Health’s expenditure, but gave no figure. He also gave figures for the beautification projects which are being financed through the TPDCo between Port Royal in Kingston and the Jose Marti High School in St Catherine.

It is likely that the additional expenditure will be explained in the Supplementary Estimates, which Davies is to table next Tuesday.