#JaVotes2020 | PNP promises money for utility bills
Published:Wednesday | August 26, 2020 | 7:52 PM
The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says it will pay $4,000 monthly toward the light and water bills of each household in Jamaica if it wins next week's general elections.
It’s also pledging to pursue the mandatory expulsion from parliament, of 'corrupt politicians'.
There were no details on how the plan would be funded but those may be provided tomorrow at a digital press conference set for 12 noon.
The commitments are contained in the party’s WEALTHY Plan, which was published this afternoon. 'WEALTHY' stands for Water, Employment, Access, Land Ownership, Technology, Housing and Youth.
Of the $4000 monthly – $3,000 will go to residential electricity bills and the remaining $1,000 for water bills, the document said.
That's an annual cost of more than $25 billion.
Approximately 590,000 households make up the residential customer base of the Jamaica Public Service Company, the main light and power provider in the country.
And, the National Water Commission says it has more than 350, 000 residential customers.
Additionally, the PNP plans to provide $400,000 in ‘quality living grants’ to some households.
It explained that each year, 10,000 homeowners will qualify based on need through the National Housing Trust.
The grant would cover home improvements and electricity connections to the national grid.
The PNP says the triple problems of crime, COVID-19 and corruption will have to be tackled for its plans to be achieved.
The WEALTHY Plan comes as the Bank of Jamaica disclosed today that the economy is expected to contract by between seven and 10 per cent this fiscal year because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tomorrow, the PNP’s spokesman on finance Mark Golding will go up against his government counterpart, Dr Nigel Clarke, in the finance and economy round of the national political debates.
The ruling Jamaica Labour Party released its manifesto on Tuesday.
Both parties have provided little on the specific funding arrangements for their many of their various promises.
The national polls are scheduled for September 3.
Other commitments in PNP WEALTHY Plan:
-100,000 jobs in 5 years in technology, agriculture, business process outsourcing, creative industries
-Training of 30,000 youth in high-skilled construction areas
-Universal health care through partnerships with insurance companies
-130,000 new houses – 25,000 reserved for youth under 35yo; reservations for civil servants, teachers, police, soldiers, gardeners, household helpers, taxi drivers, persons with disabilities
-$4 billion youth investment fund
-Unemployment insurance plan
-Fast track 30,000 new land titles annually