'HYPOCRITES!' - Vaz says JDIP not a tit for tat

Vaz presents documents showing PNP bias in 2001 road repair programme

BY LUKE DOUGLAS Senior Staff reporter douglasl@jamaicaobserver.com

Thursday, September 22, 2011

INFORMATION Minister Daryl Vaz yesterday labelled the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) hypocrites for its criticism of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), and said that most of the projects under a similar road repair programme launched in 2001 when the PNP formed the Government were carried out in constituencies with PNP members of Parliament.

Reading from what he said were government documents, Vaz said the National Road Improvement Plan (NARIP) launched a year before the 2002 general election had 94 per cent of the work taking place in PNP-held constituencies with a mere six per cent taking place in constituencies represented by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) which, at the time, formed the Opposition.

However, Vaz insisted that the JDIP was not a tit for tat, stating that the roads to be rehabilitated were chosen because they were in urgent need of repair.

"I stand by my word that there is great justification in the roads (and bridges) being done now," he said at the weekly post-Cabinet press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister.

"If you live in glass house, you must not throw stones," Vaz stated, describing former ministers Bobby Pickersgill, Dr Peter Phillips and Dr Omar Davies as "three hypocrites running all over Jamaica criticising JDIP".

The NARIP, Vaz said, started with 94 road projects at $3.2 billion but ballooned to 176 roads at $6 billion. He said 156 projects were in PNP-held constituencies compared with only 20 in constituencies held by the JLP.

Only six JLP parliamentarians benefited under the programme, compared with 36 on the PNP side, he said.

"You can clearly see that this was designed along partisan lines where these 36 seats were targeted seats for the 2002 election," Vaz said.

The minister later distributed to journalists copies of expenditure under NARIP which showed overwhelming bias in favour of PNP-held constituencies.

The programme also started without contractors having the necessary equipment and quality control measures in place, he asserted.

The information minister said unlike the NARIP, which was financed by "off the books" deferred financing, the financing and contractors for the JDIP were available to the public on the Contractor General's website.

He was responding to criticisms from the Opposition that the roads under the JDIP, a US$400-million programme funded by the Chinese government, had been selected along partisan lines to favour the JLP.

Speaking at the PNP annual conference last Sunday, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller said JDIP lacked transparency and accountability, and that the Government was deliberately defying acceptable procurement standards in implementing the programme.

Yesterday, Vaz also renewed his call on the Opposition for a national debate.

"Any subject, any topic, we are prepared to debate, minister to opposition member, one on one, and that includes Sister P (Simpson Miller)," he said.

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COMMENTS (29)

Jay Black
9/22/2011

@ blindmice I do hope you are not suggestion that the JLP is a better party than the PNP. you cantt be living in that type of illusion in 2011..I mean asked the Jamaican voting public why they rejected the JLP for 18 years I am sure of the fact that it was because they didnt find the JLP as a better alternative.and I mean the result of the election in 2007 does prove once again there not much confidence in the JLP by the overwelming voting public. the JLP just barely holding on to power

James St. John
9/22/2011

Watch for the JLP trying to dig up more dirt. The country's business will be on hold maybe for the next year for they all will be busy DIGGING up trying to cast more shadows over the eyes of the people of this blessed land. Will it do them any good? I don't think so .. and it won't be good either for the country.

Chuck Emanuel
9/22/2011

@Oral Irving asked : "Chuck will you be asking for proof that the trafigura money was paid back too? or you not interested in that ?".
The answer is yes !. Supporting documentation must be provided as proof that the monies were returned.
Chuck will you be asking for proof that the trafigura money was paid back too? or you not interested in that? who is the hypocrite now
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-HYPOCRITES--_9763570#ixzz1Yhd1ei5E

Eagle Eyes
9/22/2011

Mr.Davidson! The colour blind electorate is unable to see the progress that has/is happening under the Present Govt. Reason; They have/had been BRAIN WASHED into believing that below the axis-line was ECONOMIC GROWTH. Must have; because, Just look at todays cartoon. Everyone now must be wondering; How mi neva seeit.

0o k
9/22/2011

Seems to I if this is a fact then it would likely that roads in the JLP Sector must be in more urgent need of repairs.
The country was certainly not Pot-Hole Free when the Comrades left office.
I can't imagine any roads (even the ones selectively repaired by Comrades) that is not in need of urgent repair.

norris Richards
9/22/2011

Mr Vas better be careful , he might apologise for what he said.

Oral Irving
9/22/2011

Chuck will you be asking for proof that the trafigura money was paid back too? or you not interested in that? who is the hypocrite now

Blindmice Blindmice
9/22/2011

The comrades and the PNP love to wallow in nastiness & slackness, like hogs you cannot take the mud out of them. The truth and facts never mean anything to them. Until PNP party becomes obsolete in Jamaica, the country will remain to be a fools paradise. Why folks cannot see this; remains a mystery. Most of the country’s economic & social problems are creations of the PNP. Very sad indeed for such a beautiful country. Plse don’t get excited comrades I am not a labourite,

Noel Richards
9/22/2011

Fight, Fight! On the left is the PNP, on the right is the JLP, both are lightweights. Does anyone see the perverse and disrespectful nature of this public spat between the PNP and JLP? One created JDIP as its financial lifeline and the other is angry about not being able to feed from the trough. All other Jamaicans be damned, you just pay for it with poor services, unbearable public debt, high crime, high stress levels and yes, marl roads with humongous potholes.

avid equin
9/22/2011

Nadine Johnson and Kenneth Williams are correct. the 36:6 need to be contextualised in the party seat split in 2001. The evidence is that it was 50:10, so there was no bias. Mr Vaz is deliberately trying to mislead the country and whip up anger knowing that the facts he has is saying the opposite of his assertions. What type of leadership is that ?
Observer, help us with the facts no man rather than this rubberstamping "which showed overwhelming bias in favour of PNP-held constituencies"

Tom Stroke
9/22/2011

Mr Vaz, describing Bobby Pickersgill, sell-out Peter Phillips and Omar as hypocrites is too mild. I believe you are too kind. I hear that politicians were made from different materials from the rest of us, and these 3 persons particularly sell out Peter, are perfect specimens to prove that theory. I do not understand this hoopla that the PNP is running around and shouting about the JDIP. Was it not Bobby Pickersgill who told us that “Jamaica would be pothole free by 2003”? So, was that achieved? If it was not, why try to derail the JDIP? Do PNP people utilize those roads in so-called JLP constituencies? I can be wrong since I do not know the constituency boundaries well; however, do PNP people use for example the Washington Blvd, of which a part is in Derrick Smith’s constituency? Should the work taking place not be done on the Boulevard? What a small way to think. Simply amazing.

Nejeeper KNG
9/22/2011

Some of us are touting politics that is so obvious. Can the people who use this forum to display their political biases and hypocritical tendency state what they are currently doing for JA? For example after school programs, support for the elderly, community outreach etc. patriotism is not being die-hard it is being objective for the benefit of country and people.

Nejeeper KNG
9/22/2011

We act so surprise that JLPNP only takes care of their constituencies, but the surprise is not genuine. The die-hards know that this is how politics is conducted in JA that is why they are die-hards. What we should look for is not what politicians disagree on but what they can agree on. The objective is to undermine your opponents however if both parties can’t agree on anything it is time for an Independent party to step forward with a different blueprint from what the JLPNP have been using.

J L
9/22/2011

In order to prove hypocrisy you have to weigh the different pieces of evidence side by side. Unfortunately, the only way to compare the present JLP with the previous PNP is to go back and review the pnp's record. So if the pnp do not want their misdeeds brought up then they need to stop being idiots. That being said, all the roads being fixed will be open to JEEP and BMW alike, so no favoritism there.

Nadine Johnson
9/22/2011

Kenneth Williams thanks for your number in the 50-10. 50 for PNP and 10 seats for the JLP .So 36-6 that mean more JLP roads were fixed than PNP under a PNP Government. Mr Vaz uno can't fooled we no more you like draw and show things but tell the people the truth. In Parliment it was 50-10 and 6 of the JLP seats road fixed and 36 of the 50 for the PNP fixed . I know that would lie the numbers.

Beresford Davidson
9/22/2011

Mr. Vaz is only telling the truth as is without any spin. The JLP government has done a good job with the economy and they are not given enough credit by them 'pyah pyah,' journalists who help sell out the country to corruption during Patterson and Ms P era. The PNP is all for fool fool business and all who support them are living in denial themselves.

kevin sanders
9/22/2011

Mr. Vaz and the JLP still don't get it. Don't they know that JA is PNP country? The reason the JLP won was because some PNP were tired of corruption, lack of jobs and the high crime rate so some switched and voted for the JLP while some didn't bother to vote at all. They were hoping the JLP would bring a change & a higher level of integrity to Gordon House. Instead what we've got is much worse than what we had. Therefore the disappointment which is why PNP will outvote out the JLP next year.

Kenneth Williams
9/22/2011

Mr. Vaz math is incorrect. using his numbers the PNP got 89% of the projects (156 of 176) to the JLP 11% (20 of 176). In terms of Parlimentarians the PNP got 86% (36 of 42) to the JLP 14% (6 of 42). Bearing in mind at the time (2001) the PNP had 50 Parlimentarians (83%) to the JLP 10 (17%). Where is the victimaziation in those numbers Mr. Vaz? Where is the blatant "fixing of PNP roads"?Your language and tone is not what is expected of our leaders. Lets elevate the debate.

wanda woeman
9/22/2011

We see the JLP changing tactics now. The other day I head a No. of JLP callers saying on radio that it didn't matter which roads were repaired because both PNP and JLP lived in all areas. They have to be consistent.
Mr. Vaz was so angry yesterday, that he changed colour. Reminds me of Nelson and Lewin. It seems they change color when perturbed. But they must keep calm and remember this is not the end of the world. After all they should recall MM in Charles Square..
Keep cool man.

wanda woeman
9/22/2011

I saw Mr. Vaz waving a document on TV last night about roads which were reportedly repaired by the PNP when they were in office and which he says showed a disparity between roads fixed in PNP and JLP constituencies.
I hope he will make this document available to the media, unlike the chque which he waved when the PM went to Para.
Don't these ppl know that we don't believe them anymore?
I am prepared to give some credence to what he says if he shows us the PM's cheque for scrutiny. Hypocrites?

diehardr sickheads
9/22/2011

Both the Jlp and PNP are hypocrites so the diehards should shut up their mouths.both parties practise political victimization ,promote intollerance and tribalism.the supporters who a look a food from them party will always see something wrong with the other side.The food supply short now so nuff man want back the food GOV.Only in jamaica portia and bruce could run for PM.The festival song play the music jump like leggo beast was it discriminating against women? if portia was a man then is it so.

Jeff Orange
9/22/2011

@Chuck Emanuel, It would be more revealing if Mr. Vaz would shed some light on the so-called sweet heart deal he negotiated with the Jamaican Tax Authority for the $Millions he owes the people of Jamaica for GCT taxes that was collected and not turn over to the GOJ. Isn't that theft? We would also like to know about the FINSAC property he was able to purchase, even though he had the lowest bid price. These are issues he has personal knowledge of and no research need.

Nadine Johnson
9/22/2011

When I watch CNN and see the USA giving a press breifing it is so smooth don't care the circumstances. But listening to Vaz yesterday shouting at the Jamaican people is a Disgrace. I would like to Know in 2001 how many seats was to JLP and how many was to PNP, because there may Lie the problem with a 36-6 ratio. But as always the JLP only like to compare back to 10-30yrs, they still stuck in the past.. Mr Vaz we Jamaicans like to go forward seems we will have to leave the JLP Behind.

Chuck Emanuel
9/22/2011

Ok Mr Vaz, while we are researching and producing "documents", could you kindly identify and produce those documents which could shed some light on the sources of the monies that funded the wire transfer to MPP on behalf of Dudus's legal representation ?.
As I recalled, the PM had asked you to look about the financing, and this happened quite recently (last year). In the interest of credibility and transparency, where did the monies came from ?.

Devon T
9/22/2011

As mi granny always say...Puss never like see thief carry long bag.
If inder the PNP only PNP constituencies gets their roads done, then it is only fair that the roads left to be done are in JLP constituencies. As far as i am concerned, that is clear cut common sense. Cut the politics with the lives of my brothers and sisters... Do the right thing. Fix the roads period.

Ramon Castro
9/22/2011

These politicians (JLP/PNP) needs to apply the CLEAN HAND DOCTRINE before they make speeches or address news conferences. Mr. Vaz, might be right that JLP constituencies were neglected for 18 1/2 years and to address the inequity, priority has to given to those constituencies. The question is
-- what policies should to be put in place to eliminate the attack and counter-attack of victimization. In 2007, my last visit to Jamaica I was shocked that the roads in my community were worst than when I visited 2 yrs prior and they were worst than when I left Jamaica in 1987. This constituency has always been represented by the JLP. For 18/1/2 the JLP in opposition was bawling political victimization and now it's the PNP time to bawl. The system of government is ripe for this kind of poor governance.

Larry Simpson
9/22/2011

So is this the justification?

Ainsworth Cole
9/22/2011

I don't care who want to blame or cuss who for the JDIP, all I want to know is that we get value for the money spent, the roads must be done and done well, we have to pay that money back, no politician paying for it. I'm also glad that the Milk River bath road is been fixed, can't forget the minibus driver that choose to drive at full speed on my side of the road mek mi wid mi wife and children have to drive inna de cane piece because the only good part of the road was on my side weh him a drive

Jay Black
9/22/2011

mr Vaz you should have keep your mouth shut .because what you saying is the PNP are hypocrits for even saying what they have said.because under their leadership the same thing that they calling out the JLP on some thing similiar happen under the PNP. saying this now means you agree with the claim they made isnt it?and you telling them dont cry now you did the same thing ..that is what wrong with Jamaican politics.ur party in power your area benefit and you short change the other party.

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'HYPOCRITES!' - Vaz says JDIP not a tit for tat