Devon Evans, Sunday Gleaner Writer

OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has made it clear that the 12,000 persons targeted for employment under the recently announced special beautification programme will be receiving salaries above the current minimum wage.

In an attempt to silence critics, who have been arguing that the persons to be employed in the programme will be paid in accordance with the minimum wage, the Prime Minister said "I never told anybody it was minimum wage."

She said none of the critics had the patience to wait for the details of the programme or even attempted to ask whether she would be seeking additional funds but instead, tried to arrive at their own conclusions.

Mrs. Simpson Miller said: "Well, I want to put to rest this thing about minimum wage. It is going to be above the minimum wage, no matter what."

Will not stop programme

The Prime Minister made these comments while delivering the main address at the 10th anniversary awards banquet of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), held at the Sunset Jamaica Grand Resort in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on Friday night.

Prime Minister Simpson Miller said despite the criticisms of the $635 million programme, it will still go ahead as planned.

She adds "Every time something is being done to put poor people to work, there are always criticisms, but when government moves to help a number of other areas, I do not hear the same criticism. No one is going to stop any programme of my administration to assist the poor."

Mrs. Simpson Miller praised the workers of TPDCo for their sterling performance over the past 10 years and encouraged them to continue working in the interest of the country.

Twenty-nine employees of TPDCo were presented with awards, including for long service and other categories. Special awards were presented to Mary Helen Reece and Hugh Shim.