Henry urges taxpayers to be more vigilant

Minister of Transport and Works Mike Henry has called on citizens to be vigilant in ensuring that work carried out under the $36-billion Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), is of the highest standard.

"Citizens, you are the eyes and ears of the Government of Jamaica and the Ministry of Transport and Works, to ensure that quality work is carried out on this project, which is an economic necessity for the country," he said.

Minister Henry was addressing the launch of the St James leg of the road development programme last Thursday at the Montego Bay Civic Centre.

He said that the total package for the parish in the first year of the programme amounts to $2 billion and will see about 27 roads in four constituencies getting much-needed attention. "If your road is not on [the list for attention] for the first year, we will be dealing with them in the second, and the third, and so on," the minister explained to residents.

Described as the largest and most comprehensive road infrastructure programme undertaken in the country, JDIP is a partnership between the Governments of Jamaica and China and is being carried out through a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.

The five-year project, which will be undertaken in two phases, will improve the island's road network and link people and communities, thus significantly improving the quality of life for all Jamaicans.

Minister Henry assured that local contractors and labourers will benefit under the project. "During the negotiations with the contractors for the project, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, I made it clear that we wanted to have the participation of local contractors and local labour in the actual work. They have assured that they are utilising grade one contractors from Jamaica, registered with the National Contracts Commission, to be followed by grade-two, three and four local contractors, thereby involving our local people in the project," he said.

The launch in Montego Bay was the 12th across the island. Work under the JDIP got under way last month.