'JDIP good for Jamaica'

• Poll finds majority support for controversial road-repair programme

THE CONTROVERSY-PLAGUED infrastructure repair project, dubbedthe Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), has been accepted by a majority of Jamaicans as a good programme for the country.

However, a sizeable number of Jamaicans believe that JDIP is a political programme by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), while a quarter of the population is of the view that it represents a good programme for the country with a political flavour.

The data was collected by Bill Johnson in the latest Gleaner-commissioned poll which was conducted among 1,008 people across Jamaica's 14 parishes on May 28 and 29 and June 4 and 5, 2011. It has a margin of error of plus or minus four per cent.

Johnson found that 38 per cent of Jamaicans see JDIP as a good programme for the country, while 29 per cent believe it is designed to win votes for the JLP. Eight per cent of those sampled said they did not have a view on the programme.

The JDIP is a US$400-million programme which is intended to address roads, bridges and other infrastructure across the island.

Most of the money has been borrowed from the Export-Import Bank of China and is to be repaid over 20 years from the $8.75-per-litre tax on fuel that was imposed by the Government three years ago.

With general elections due next year, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) has said the JDIP is being used for political opportunism by the governing JLP.

The PNP has repeatedly called for transparency in all spending under the programme, as well as the selection of projects.

The Opposition was particular critical of the approximately $900-million Christiana Development Road in the constituency of Finance Minister Audley Shaw. The expenditure is being made on one kilometre of roadway.

Amid the concerns, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced that independent consultants are to be retained to assess work done under the JDIP.

"What was explained to me does not satisfy the bar. I must put in place to account for every penny," Golding declared recently.

The programme has also attracted the attention of Contractor General Greg Christie, who has said his office has very serious concerns and questions regarding the administration and implementation of the JDIP.