Use JDIP funds for Nicole relief efforts - Simpson Miller

OPPOSITION LEADER Portia Simpson Miller is suggesting that the Government revamp the US$60 million (J$5.2b) Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), in year one, and target a national emergency response programme to deal with the devastating effects of rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole.

"If the funds under the JDIP were redirected as part of a national emergency response programme, the Government would be able to immediately and more effectively respond to the need for repairs to the island's infrastructure," Simpson Miller advised.

According to the opposition leader, this move would ease the difficulties now being faced by entire families and communities hit by the heavy rains.

"It would also lessen the time for recovery to the productive sectors and the negative impact to the economy caused by the dislocation being experienced by many in the aftermath of Nicole," she added.

On Sunday, transport and works minister Mike Henry indicated that the JDIP would continue "in its totality".

He told The Gleaner that where further damage to the road network was identified it would be assessed and added to the project.

More money needed

Henry also pointed out that additional funding would be sought to deal with the damage arising from the effects of the torrential rains.

The Government has already secured a grant of US$200,000 from a multilateral agency.

With assessment still being done in some parishes, the Government has estimated that more than $12 billion would be needed to carry out repairs.

However, Simpson Miller earlier this week called on the Bruce Golding administration to dip into the JDIP to carry out "urgent and immediate rehabilitation of the infrastructure damaged by rains" linked to Tropical Storm Nicole.

She expressed shock that the Government had no contingency plans for eventualities such as a hurricane.

"All indications from the various forecasts warned that this Hurricane Season would have been very active," she stressed.

Simpson Miller said her proposal was in response to "the seriousness of the needs of several Jamaican families and communities as well as the tight fiscal environment in which the country now operates in the medium term, under the IMF Agreement".