CLARENDON SECURED the lion's share of employment in phase one of the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) with 4,207 persons in the parish receiving temporary jobs.

The JEEP Secretariat reported that 17,724 persons were employed during the first phase.

Kingston and St Andrew was second, receiving 3,220 jobs under the programme, followed by St Catherine with 2,655.

The parish with the least number of persons employed under phase one of JEEP is Hanover with 158.

The Government allocated $1.2 billion for the first phase of JEEP, but the secretariat said the total amount was not spent. It says the balance will be expended in phase two of the programme.

Project Director of JEEP Lucille Brodber told a parliamentary oversight committee earlier this week that approximately 1,000 persons have already been recruited under the second phase of the work programme.

In the current phase, the Government says 35,000 persons will receive employment.

Funding for phase two is approximately $6.29 billion.