Hylton calls for public education on CDF

Members of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Committee of Parliament this morning, supported a call from Eastern St. Andrew Member of Parliament (MP), Andre Hylton for a national public education programme on the CDF.

This would include information about how it is to be spent in constituencies.

However, while the majority of committee members joined the choir in echoing the need for the publicity exercise, South West St. Catherine MP Everald Warmington said it was not necessary.

According to Warmington, MPs had a duty to organise meetings with their constituents and interest groups to discuss and identify projects to be funded by the CDF.

MP for St. Ann North West, Dayton Campbell, argued that the public education exercise on the CDF is necessary because some constituents are of the view that MPs have access to these funds and should disperse it to them.

MP for North West Manchester, Mikael Phillips, told his colleagues that the sensitisation programme would go a far way in easing the pressure brought on by constituents and the media on MPs.

Chairman of the CDF committee, Dr DK Duncan advised that while some MPs may identify certain projects for spending, it should be noted that sums should be set aside for emergency programmes.

Debate on the use of the CDF has intensified in the media, following a fallout between East Rural St. Andrew MP Damion Crawford and some of his constituents over the spending of CDF on mainly education programmes.

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