Parish launches not a political ploy - NWA boss

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

National Works Agency (NWA) boss Patrick Wong has scoffed at concerns about the rationale for the parish-by-parish launch of an islandwide road-rehabilitation programme, even as speculation swirls that the Government might be using the project to kick-start its election campaign.

Wong, chief executive officer of the NWA, said this week that it was "nonsense" to question the rationale, and rebuffed Gleaner queries about who was providing the funds for the launches.

"That is really none of your business ... . Why do you want to know who is paying for it?" Wong snapped.

The Government has embarked on an ambitious road-improvement programme. The US$400-million (J$36-billion) project, being financed through a loan agreement between Jamaica and the government of China, will see large-scale rehabilitation of major and parochial roads, as well as the construction and repair of bridges, drains and other attendant features over the next five years.

The project is being spearheaded by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited.

The NWA has already launched campaigns in St Thomas, Portland, St Catherine, St Elizabeth, Manchester and Trelawny and will be moving to Ocho Rios, St Ann, today.

Opposition questions need

Robert Pickersgill, the opposition spokesman on transport and works, yesterday questioned the need for the series of launches.

""Why spend all that money when they are strapped for cash; when it could be done with one press conference?" Pickersgill asked.

"It is clear that the Government, in doing this, has embarked on their political campaign," he told The Gleaner.

The next general election is constitutionally due in 2012.

However, Transport Minister Mike Henry has denied claims that the launches represent politicking.

"I want the totality of the stakeholders of the country to be aware of everything that is being done and everything that the Government is doing and correcting in the interest of the country," Henry said.

It was also unclear how much money was being spent by the works agency for the various parish launches.

Underwriting cost

Stephen Shaw, the communications manager at the NWA, says China Harbour, the main contractor for the project, underwrites the cost for light refreshments at the launches which the NWA hosts at "public facilities such as schools and community centres where present".

Meanwhile, Pickersgill said the Opposition is still in the dark with respect to the projects that will be undertaken in the various constituencies or the other contractors involved in the the project.

"We require greater transparency at every level about how the money is being spent because it is the people of Jamaica that will have to repay it," Pickersgill said.

Just before Parliament went on recess in late July, Henry told the House of Representatives that he would present a list of all roads to be rehabilitated under the programme, for which US$60 million would be spent by next March.

But according to Pickersgill, this has not been forthcoming.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com