KINGSTON, Jamaica – Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke on Tuesday tabled the First Supplementary Estimates for the 2023/24 fiscal year in the House of Representatives.

The estimates take into account the creation of two new ministries following last week’s Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Following the reshuffle, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries was replaced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Mining, while the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology was replaced by the Ministry of Science, Energy and Transportation.

Clarke stressed that the estimates will not add any money to the $1 trillion Budget.

“These supplementary estimates merely reorganised the allocation of resources to these new ministries in alignment with the subject areas that these ministries have responsibility for. It does not involve any additional expenditure or any change in any of the total numbers, it is simply facilitating the operation of these new ministries,” Clarke explained.

The estimates will be examined on Wednesday by the Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee.