Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has dismissed claims that the Government would not be able to fund the $350 million shortfall in the Budget, arising from the exemption of hospital fees for children.

Responding to questions at a post-Budget Debate press conference at Jamaica House yesterday, Mrs. Simpson Miller said her Cabinet had already discussed the matter and had agreed that funds would be reallocated from some ministries to the Ministry of Health.

She told journalists that Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, would provide details in his closing Budget speech.

However, Dr. Davies did not address the issue during his presentation.

Addressing her critics, who accused her of making election announcements, the Prime Minister said that she would not put the country's programmes on hold until after the general election.

Put country on hold

In reference to the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, she declared: "People want us to put the development of the country on hold until after election, there is no responsible Government in the world that can do that, and I will not do that."

She contended that the announcements were not "silly promises", as her administration intended to implement all the projects put forward.

The Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that persons 18 years and under would be exempted from medical fees at public hospitals.