PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller yesterday announced the abolition of hospital fees for persons up to 18 years old, a $500,000 increase in the National Housing Trust (NHT) loan ceiling, and the Government’s intention to establish a new hospital for children and adolescents in western Jamaica.

In addition, Simpson Miller, in what was clearly a budget presentation to improve her party’s chances of retaining power in the upcoming general elections, said that the NHT would be earmarking $6 billion for housing for sugar workers, of which $2 billion would represent a subsidy.

The hospital fee abolition will take effect on May 28 at government hospitals and health facilities, except the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston.

She said, too, that persons on the PATH programme accessing health care in public hospitals will not be sent bills.

Last year, the Government raised the ceiling on mortgage loans for NHT contributors from $1.5 million to $3 million per person. This year, the prime minister announced an increase to $3.5 million per person effective July 1. Joint applicants will be able to access loans of up to $7 million.

Sugar workers who are to benefit under the NHT proposal will have the option of purchasing the mass construction one-bedroom and studio units on the estate, or be facilitated under the Trust’s Build on Own Land programme.

On crime, the prime minister said that, having had discussions with the minister of national security, Dr Peter Phillips, the Government is looking at introducing special teams to focus on searching for illegal guns.

“We will be going after the guns,” she said. “We will be going after the persons who import the illegal guns, who sell the illegal guns, who distribute, lend, rent and use these guns.”

She also announced that a citizens’ response and monitoring unit within her office, to ensure speedy responses to complaints from citizens across the island, will be established.

Using the theme ‘One Jamaica, One Family: Shaping the Future Together,’ the prime minister explained that the idea of family lent itself to the concept of shaping a Jamaica, “that will meet our highest aspirations”.

“I am sure that there is general agreement in this Honourable House that there is too much pulling apart, when our people would be better served by pulling together,” she suggested.

“My vision is for every member of the family to have access to good health care and live in a healthy, sustainable and enriching environment,” she said.

Other announcements made by the prime minister included:

. Cabinet has approved a four-lane tolled road starting at the Linstead/Bog Walk Bypass and ending at Claremont, to start in June, as the next phase of Highway 2000;

. Ground to be broken next month for the construction of the Montego Bay convention centre on 86,000 square feet of land at Rose Hall;

. Regulations of the National Insurance Act to be amended to enable more retirees to qualify for pension;

. Launch of a national parenting education programme to target both young adults and children who have children.