The Government is projected to spend $30.5 billion in 2015/16 to undertake work on roads and bridges, provide buses and housing solutions, upgrade schools, among other initiatives to benefit Jamaicans.

Of the total, $3.3 billion will be spent for work on roadways and bridges, and to commence and complete phases five and six of the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP).

In addition, $1.1 billion will go towards completing infrastructure works and housing units at Luana, St Elizabeth; Mount Edgcombe and Belle Aire in St Ann; and $659 million to continue construction of the Sour Sop Turn to Chapleton corridor; and complete the Scott’s Cove to Belmont Corridor in Westmoreland.

Also set aside is $3.1 billion to acquire 27 new buses to boost the fleet of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC). The buses are scheduled to arrive on the island in April.

A sum of $2.4 billion is being provided under the Sugar Transformation Programme to continue work on social development projects in the sugar-dependent areas; complete 225 houses under construction in St Thomas under the Barracks Relocation Programme — 145 in Stokes Hall and 80 in Hampton Hall; and rehabilitate select cane roads and install irrigation systems in select cane areas.

Other expenditure include $700 million to complete works on two existing agro parks and establish at least two others; and $880 million under the Citizens’ Security and Justice Programme (CSJP), to continue implementation of social intervention programmes in at-risk communities.

A sum of $1.4 billion is being provided to continue work under the Fiscal Administration Modernization Programme (FAMP) aimed at improving systems and procedures for customs and inland tax collections as well as debt, treasury and budget management; while the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has been allocated $1.8 billion to continue implementation of community level social and economic programmes inclusive of water, sanitation, road works, agro-processing and personal development initiatives.

Approximately $1 billion will go towards supporting the ongoing transformation of the education system; improving sanitary facilities and refurbishing of infant and primary schools; and continuing the work of upgrading and expanding schools in order to provide additional places to eliminate the shift system and reduce overcrowding.

Since 2012, 25 schools have been removed from shift and another 20 are slated for removal during 2015/16.

In addition to the projects, which will be undertaken in the central government, another $59 billion will be spent by the self-financing public bodies such as the National Housing Trust (NHT), Urban Development Corporation (UDC), National Water Commission (NWC), the Port Authority of Jamaica, and the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority.