Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
OPPOSITION LEADER Bruce Golding says he will be putting forward a proposal to the Government today, suggesting how it could utilise the $40 billion being held in the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
Mr. Golding was addressing constituents at the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Labour Day project at the Cooke Street Basic School in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, yesterday.
"I will be making a public statement on radio tomorrow (today) and I am going to outline how the Government could use the money to invest in education without jeopardising the fund in any way whatsoever," Mr. Golding stated.
"There is a way it can be done. It just needs some creative thinking, but that's not the way that (Finance Minister) Dr. (Omar) Davies has been thinking."
SURPLUS FUNDS
Mr. Golding said the total assets of the National Insurance Fund (the actual funds in the NIS) was $40 billion, $26 billion of which was invested in various Government instruments such as treasury bills and index bonds, among others.
He said that, in terms of the funds being held in surplus, the amount not invested might be minimal.
The Opposition Leader said, however that, even then, "we are not going to allow the Government to interfere with it."
Mr. Golding said he would be outlining his proposals at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston, at 5:00 p.m.
