Dr. Omar Davies - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Seven months after Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller rolled out a massive clean-up and beautification programme, just over half the $635 million earmarked for the initiative has to date been spent, according to Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies.

Last September, Mrs. Simpson Miller announced at the People's National Party's (PNP) annual conference that the Government would embark on the programme in October and provide employment to approximately 12,000 persons.

Dr. Davies, speaking at a post-Budget Debate press conference at the Finance Ministry yesterday, said Government had disbursed more than $300 million for the project.

Funded by proceeds from the PetroCaribe initiative, the programme is targeting public spaces, major towns and urban centres across the country.

Dr. Davies told reporters that the work would continue as planned. "Let me just give youthe assurance that the programme is going to continue and be intensified, not as a special programme," Dr. Davies added.