National Security Minister Peter Bunting yesterday handed over 53 vehicles to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). The vehicles are the first set purchased by the Ministry of National Security from a budget of J$500 million for the current fiscal year.

According to Bunting, this budgetary allocation represents the largest injection of funds into the ministry's capital budget for vehicle acquisition over the past four years.

The vehicles were acquired through funding from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, as well as the reallocation of funds from the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Science, Technology Energy and Mining.

"I am really pleased to be able to say that in this case, it is one of the finest demonstrations of joined-up government," Bunting said at the handover ceremony held at the police commissioner's office on Old Hope Road in St Andrew.

Bunting said he was happy to have received the first commitment of $250 million and expected a second drawdown of a similar sum by the end of the fiscal year.

The $250 million covers the cost of a total of 135 vehicles to be handed over to the security forces, including the JCF, the Jamaica Defence Force and the Department of Correctional Services.

Apart from the 53 cars, pickups and 4x4 utility vehicles that were handed over yesterday, an additional 12 cars, six pickups, two trucks, two 15-seater buses and 44 motorcycles will go to the JCF.

The JDF will get six pickups and eight trucks, while the Department of Correctional Services will get two trucks.

The second drawdown of $250 million will be used to acquire additional vehicles by the end of the fiscal year.