Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator

Prime Minister and People's National Party President, Portia Simpson Miller, greets the huge crowd at the party's 68th annual conference at the National Arena yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Beginning in October, the Government will be rolling out a massive six-month clean-up and beautification programme islandwide, providing employment for 12,000 persons at a cost of $635 million.

Funded by proceeds from the PetroCaribe Initiative, the programme will target public spaces, major towns and urban centres in time for Cricket World Cup 2007, set to bowl off in March.

Addressing tens of thousands of party supporters at the 68th annual conference of the People's National Party (PNP) yesterday at the National Arena, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller made it clear that this exercise was not about an election, noting that it would provide work for poor people.

"This project will help the poor to send their children to school and to provide food for their families," Mrs. Simpson Miller said.

Garbage clean-up

She told the partisan following that the Government was also partnering with the private sector to help rid the country of garbage on the streets.

The Prime Minister also said some 4,000 Jamaicans will receive titles this financial year, as starting next month, she will be hitting the road to distribute land titles across the country.

Turning to the proposed $1 billion from the National Insurance Fund to finance small businesses, Mrs. Simpson Miller said the project was already oversubscribed with requests for assistance totalling $1.8 billion.

In her maiden presentation to the annual conference as party president, a spirited Mrs. Simpson Miller said her administration would be attacking poverty with "shock and awe".

"Omar is trying to balance the books and we are trying to balance people's lives," she stated.

Launching a verbal attack against child abusers, the Prime Minister warned that offenders would feel the full force of the law.

She said legislation was being drafted to introduce stiffer penalties for persons who abuse children.

"Big men who abuse children will not go unpunished," she declared.

Meanwhile, work on the long awaited Harmony Cove development in Trelawny is expected to get under way soon. Mrs. Simpson Miller said she would be signing a contract for the project this week.

The Harmony Cove Resort will be located on approximately 1,400 acres of land and consists of four five-star hotels, including a 1,000-room convention hotel. Approximately 200 upscale villas and manor houses will also to be constructed.