KINGSTON, Jamaica — Member of Parliament for St Andrew East Central, Dennis Gordon, has joined calls by his parliamentary colleagues for an increase in allocations under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Speaking during the State of the Constituency Debate in Gordon House on Thursday, Gordon said the current CDF allocation was grossly inadequate to meet the expectations and needs of constituents, resulting in growing frustration and voter apathy.

According to a PNP release on Friday, he recalled that the CDF, as originally conceived by former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, was based on the principle of allocating 2.5 per cent of the national budget directly to constituencies to finance development projects and provide basic amenities.

The MP stressed that the fund was never intended to operate as a slush fund, but rather as a mechanism for constituency development, subject to proper scrutiny and accountability. He argued that with the cost of goods and services having increased by approximately 165 per cent since the fund was established nearly 20 years ago, the time had come to revisit the original proposal.

Gordon said an allocation of 2.5 per cent of the national budget would provide approximately $35 billion to constituencies, making much-needed resources available to undertake long-overdue development projects in underserved communities across rural and urban Jamaica.

He argued that such an allocation would also allow for a more equitable distribution of resources, enabling Members of Parliament to recommend and advance transformative projects without being overly dependent on ministerial discretion.

The first-time Member of Parliament outlined his development plan for St Andrew East Central, which focuses on improving infrastructure, creating employment opportunities, expanding social housing and land titling, implementing youth intervention programmes, strengthening health and welfare services, and supporting sports and the creative industries.

He linked these priorities to what he described as the constituency’s seven-point misery index, which identifies critical areas requiring attention, including youth employment, poverty alleviation, infrastructure and security, education and youth development, health and wellness, and support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Gordon emphasised that vision without capital was mere fantasy, noting that Members of Parliament were elected to serve their constituents and respond to their basic needs.

He also highlighted his personal commitment to community development, disclosing that he had committed 25 per cent of his salary to support a faith-based initiative managed by Bishop Herro Blair and had acquired a property valued at $20 million to assist 100 residents facing eviction.