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| Mar 24, 2021

Needy J’cans to benefit from $126m in aid during weekend lockdowns

Juanique Tennant

Juanique Tennant / Our Today

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Dr Nigel Clarke, minister of finance and the public service. (Photo: JIS)

Needy Jamaicans are to receive a total of $126 million to alleviate financial difficulties that may arise as a result of the Government’s recently announced weekend lockdowns, says Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke.

Clarke made the announcement as he closed the 2021-2022 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday (March 23) noting that “in light of the programmed triple weekend lockdown, the Government of Jamaica will provide $2 million per constituency to support citizens requiring assistance across the lockdown periods”.

CDF to receive funds on April 1

The provision will be disbursed to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) on April 1, the start of the new fiscal year, ahead of further distribution to address the needs in each constituency.

In response to the third wave Jamaica is currently experiencing in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced during a virtual press conference last Sunday (March 21) that, commencing this Saturday (March 27), the country will undergo a series of three consecutive weekend lockdowns.

During the weekend lockdowns, Sundays are to be observed as no movement days and with curfews beginning at noon on Saturday and continuing through to Monday at 5 a.m.

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