We need an OOPS
Published:Monday | July 9, 2012 | 12:00 AM
By Garth A. Rattray
Sunday before last, I went to Vernamfield with 'Tuner/Mechanic' (Jimmy Sinclair) who tuned the car for various driving conditions. It was my first visit. There were no speedsters, so I had a good look around.
Having gone through patches of some really very bad roads and seen the surrounding areas (an edifice that looks like a school, residential buildings and an active cane cultivation), I wondered if the planners that made several serious attempts at developing Vernamfield as a replacement for the Norman Manley International Airport, and then as an international airport/seaport-connected hub, and then as a base for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), really knew what they were getting themselves (and, by extension, the rest of us) into.
As an airport, that airstrip would have to be totally replaced and significantly extended in several directions, and daunting infrastructure work would be needed on the site before any construction begins. Then there is the matter of the access and egress roadways to accommodate heavy traffic, cargo and equipment on a regular basis. There would need to be massive surrounding land acquisition and external infrastructure work to facilitate an airport there.
Inadequate estimate
I know this must reek of cynicism, but the last quoted estimate (January 2010) of US$1 billion certainly seems inadequate to me. And, even if a foreign company spent venture capital on the project (sparing us from spending tax dollars but also giving them the lion's share of any profits earned), we would still have to provide and maintain proper roads - another major financial undertaking.
Then, my mind wandered to the current mega project, the Palisadoes Shoreline Protection and Rehabilitation Programme being constructed by the China Harbour Engineering Company and partially funded by a $5-billion loan from the Chinese Ex-Im Bank. Even though it is expected to remain an efficient roadway far into the future, withstand storms/hurricanes and keep up with possible commercial growth, this grandiose undertaking (especially in times of austerity) looks like overkill to me. Furthermore, it seems like we are going to run out of funds for the project and generations to come will inherit a huge sum of money to repay.
Then, there were the two proposals to move the JDF from Up Park Camp to Vernamfield or to the 'Caymanas Corridor'. The current administration has nixed the moving of the JDF, but the fact remains that the previous government was going full steam ahead with plans to do so. I wonder how many millions, or perhaps billions, that faux pas would have set us back.
Infamous white elephant
The point is this: Various administrations attempt to take on massive projects that will put us deeper in debt. Admittedly, some of these projects may be for future development, but we must wonder if our tax dollars are being used in clandestine ways to repay political contributors/supporters or to establish a 'political legacy'.
That infamous white elephant of a bus park downtown comes to mind. In spite of repeated and strident warnings from the bus operators, the bus park was built with obstinacy and our tax dollars; so far, only the contractor(s) benefited from it.
These spending decisions are often made in spite of our need to conserve. We, therefore, need a bipartisan Office Of Public Spending (OOPS). It would carefully scrutinise the need, practicality and feasibility of grandiose projects to prevent unnecessary spending.
That way, we can call upon OOPS before spending and avoid saying "Oops!" afterwards, when it's too late.
Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com