The Palisadoes spending spree

For months we have sought to get a clear response from the works minister, Mr Mike Henry, whether he intended to proceed with his showpiece, the US$65-million Palisadoes road project. We have sometimes been met with silence, but mostly obfuscation. In a letter published today, he insists on going full speed ahead.

But, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised questions about the efficacy of proceeding with this project, given the country's continued fiscal bind and the level of debt that would have to be taken on for its completion.

Indeed, we, like anyone else, would appreciate the road to the Norman Manley International Airport to be of several lanes, to be several feet higher, have fancy boardwalks and a lookout to the sea - if the country could afford it. The IMF is saying that we can't.

In any event, it would make more sense to spend less on the Palisadoes road and allocate some of the savings to other infrastructural projects.

Now that the IMF has raised its concern with the finance ministry, we hope Prime Minister Bruce Golding will speak with clarity whether he shares Mr Henry's unbridled optimism that this project really represents value for money and is economically expedient.

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