‘HYPOCRITES’ - Gov't chides critics of Christiana Development Rd

Media to tour controversial Christiana road

BY INGRID BROWN Senior staff reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com

Thursday, June 09, 2011

THE Government yesterday chided critics of the controversial $800-million Christiana Development Road, saying they have failed to focus also on the 150 per cent cost overrun on the Mount Rosser leg of Highway 2000, the US$9-million upgrade of the Bogue Road in Montego Bay, and the $600-million price tag to repair the Sheffield to Negril road in Westmoreland.

Minister responsible for information Daryl Vaz, in a bid to put to rest the controversy surrounding the Christiana project, now the subject of an investigation by the Office of the Contractor General (OCG), said Transport Minister Mike Henry and member of Parliament for North East Manchester Audley Shaw will be taking members of the media on a tour of the roadway later this week.

"I raise the issue of the Mount Rosser leg of Highway 2000 where that road was to have cost US$65 million but US$120 million has already been spent and US$160 million is to be the final cost, based on a flawed geo-technical study," Vaz told journalists at yesterday's weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston.

He said no one had been questioning this overrun, although the experts had cautioned the previous Government on the geo-technical challenges ahead of the start of that roadway which had since hit a snag.

"The question that I ask is, who is held responsible for this, and why is this not being pursued in relation to getting the answers to this matter?" Vaz asked.

"Here you are talking about tens of millions of US dollars; overruns in excess of 150 per cent, and yet still, we portray to the public about one kilometre of road -- which in itself is less than honest -- costing $800 million, when we know that the two lanes of the Bogue project is estimated to cost US$9 million; and that is flat land without any major infrastructure challenges."

According to Vaz, questions needed to be asked fairly about cost of roads. "We must make sure and pursue not just one matter pertaining to road infrastructure. We must also investigate the contract that has been awarded (in the constituency) to one of the same persons who is raising this in a dishonest manner; and that is the Sheffield to Negril Road, which is (for the) repair of roads at an estimated cost of $600 million," Vaz said.

The minister, however, made it clear that he was not suggesting that there was anything wrong or untoward in the Sheffield project.

"But again here are repairs of a section of a flat road earmarked to cost $600 million. I ask you, are we being fair?"

Meanwhile, Vaz explained that his colleagues would be seeking to provide a fuller understanding of the Christiana Development Project, which he was at pains to point out, was not a road repair but the development of a critical road.

According to Vaz, the $800 million for the project consisted of several factors, including the preliminaries - estimated at almost $180 million; the actual road at $370 million; retaining structure of almost $150 million; drainage cost of $30 million and bridge work for $36 million.

But even as he explained that the scope of the work would be clearly defined on the tour, Vaz said he hoped those who had so much to say would make the effort to get a first-hand view.

"It is better for people to see than to hear," Vaz concluded.

A firestorm was ignited in a Public Administration and Appropriations Committee meeting recently, when committee members were told the cost of the Christiana road project.

Contractor General Greg Christie has since written to National Works Agency boss Patrick Wong, demanding details on the cost of the roadwork.

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COMMENTS (31)

Mark Forbes
6/9/2011

In other words Mr Vaz, lets follow the PNP playbook. Afterall they were in power for 18 years, right?
@T.Smith & Vance, those 18 yrs of PNP rule was such a smashing success that there is no reason to do things differently this time around, right? On with the progress?
@N.Henry, if it is really this costly, no consideration must be given as to whether we can afford it at this time, right? What next, bridging Kingston Harbour? Also, that is exactly what you are saying and also the truth.

wayne campbell
6/9/2011

Dr P for the first time i must agree with u we need to see what would be spent in this fiscal yr and next fiscal yr

Winston Sharpe
6/9/2011

I wonder at times which orifice vaz is speaking from. The arrogance with which he parades his rubbish is nauseating!! The incompetence and corrupt nature of the last govt should be no excuse for for any corrupt act on their part, if any. I am absolutely sure that the Christiana bypass is necessary and can be justified. The cost is another issue. It is simple! If there is no bandooloism involved,then the required info should be readily available.

Mark Twain
6/9/2011

I'm really getting tired with these idiots point fingers at each other...”you made a bad decision which affected the country so we are going to make one”. This rubbish must stop! Why can't make sensible decisions; and at every point is the same thing comparing “Manhatt with the hiring of a US Firm for PR” a can hardly wait for the next elections. Sayonara Amateurs!!!!!!!!!!

Tony Smith
6/9/2011

I read all the comments here and I come to the conclusion that most read this article and have no idea what Vaz is saying, I think most drew their conclusion before they even read the article or they read it and did not comprehend what the article and Vaz saying. Come on people read and understand, read Vance Johnson's comment below and you might get a better understanding.

Dr. Joan Porteous
6/9/2011

WILL some one in government please give us the budget for the period. Talk without the data is meaningless. Let u see The BUDGET ON PAPER. IF IT IS NOT WRITTEN IT IS NOT DONE.

mike daley
6/9/2011

@Better Must-Come, I could not have said it better myself! When many of us ask or wonder why we are not better as a country many more of us need to stop looking & pointing at political opponents. Many of us need to start acknowledge that we as a people must first expect better of those we support before we can expect them/us to achieve better. It's not too much to expect for us to grow out of this blame the other guy & don't account for myself mindset.

Tony Smith
6/9/2011

@ Chuck Emanuel you have never fail me, you are very consistent, it does not matter what the topic or heading, you always inserting MPP or Dudus and corruption. Do you really know what corrupt is? I am pretty sure you know since you are a card waving talking head for the PNP. You regurgitate the same thing day in da y out....It is time now you change your diatribe..lol

Eagle Eyes
6/9/2011

Mr.Vaz, I am not one of your so called admirers, but here sir YOU ARE DEAD RIGHT. If the cost of this NEW ROAD pans out, McNeil will not have EGG on his face BUT something nastier and well deserved. I heard a talk host smirking about your comments in the comparison of road projects saying she did not understand; How can she understand while the ORANGE GLARE OF THE SUN IS SQUARELY IN HER EYES? I don't believe she deserves a further explanation except to highlight her hypocricy.

Tom Stroke
6/9/2011

In addition, do you notice that the noise being made comes with no substance? First the road is labelled "Gold road" so that it can be a catchy phrase to "run wid" on the campaign trail. Second, not one of those comrades present some statistics to refute the estimates. How can someone compare two roads in different locations with different degree of difficulties, and come up with the conclusions of these comrades? Mr Golding was right, brains are indeed infested with termites.

Nicolas Henry
6/9/2011

Many of us have the tendency to jump on any badwagon and start screaming. Do we know the cost to construct a bridge? Have any of you ever contructed a chicken coop much less a road? Everything in JA will always seems like corruption cause we born ina it, but corruption many times is only a perception. Roads bridges, water and electricity are necessary for sound nation building. The PNP complaining because, 'tief nuh like see tief carry long bag'. Not here saying the JLP is a thief. kiss teet

Elli Deedo
6/9/2011

Any Engineer in Jamaica who have encouraged mike Henry to continue repairing this Bogwalk Gorge, is taking him for a Mickey mouse: The recurrence of this waist of money must stop. Mike Henry need to be confronted about this idle behaviour which is not enhancing his political ability. There are several other Roads which lead's to this destination away from the Gorge. A bridge can be Constructed across the River from Crescent, below the reservoir, this would be more economical and intelligent:

Tom Stroke
6/9/2011

When I add up the estimates outlined by Mr Vaz I get $766 million. When contingency is added it is about 800 million. I know that Christiana is a hilly and rocky terrain so I will not dispute these estimates. I believe the purpose of the noise from the PNP is to try and erode Mr Shaw's credibility, since the road is being constructed in his constituency. Notice there is not a sound made about the roads in the PNP constituencies. Mr Christie I suggest you look into these roads as well.

Wa Tch
6/9/2011

Vaz, Mike Henry and Audley Shaw should have realized by now that they are running out of time. After almost 4 years in charge, they have to start looking at themselves, the constant looking back at the PNP is getting tired. Worse it shows a lack of maturity. How many times are we going to hear that it is PNP fault? As a question is put to the govt. they seem to hurriedly find something done from PNP days to cloud the issue. The Christiana Road will be scrutinized Mr. Vaz. DEAL WITH IT like a man

oliver smith
6/9/2011

J'can people have backwards thinking, the PNP had the same issue before because these kind of things will happen, there are no ways to predict it. The PNP are only playing politics, anything to get back in power. If Jamaica is to come out of the stone age, money has to be spent. The problem with J'cans is we want the cheap fix, and then 1 year later we protest because the roads are falling apart. I would only have a problem if that money is spent, only to spend more money for repairs in 2 years.

mike daley
6/9/2011

I was about to chide the Min of Info & the govt for it's nasty habit of pointing to bad mgmt of the former PNP admin to justify their own bad mgmt; but looks like some of you bloggers were already bothered by that blatant blame game. We already know that practice runs deep within the ranks of its supporters. Still there is a point at which this admin needs to answer for its missteps & correct them, not for credit but to show greater accountability if it's so different from the PNP.

Elli Deedo
6/9/2011

Some of us as intelligent skilled Jamaicans who are familar with the Bogwalk gorge, is having a problem with the idea of the constant repairing of this Road. After negotating the Bridge approaching bogwalk, this area of about 300 yds is a water soaked area, which cannot be repaired, below this surface is all water. There are Civil Engineers who should advised Mike Henry, that it's a constant waist of money to facilitate a temporary occasion. Are they using their intelligence?..Cont

David Armstrong
6/9/2011

You have to pay attention when Daryl Vaz speaks. He can be confusing and misinformed at times. OK, I am not sure but is he comparing apples to oranges here? It seems like the investigation of the Christiana Development Road project involves corruption among other things. On the other hand it seems like the Mount Rosser project was more cost overrun. It is not impossible for corruption to be involved here too. However, Mr. Vaz playing this tit for tat game is unwise and unjustifiable.

Vance Johnson
6/9/2011

What the minister is appealing for is consistency of criticism. It seems that some individuals who are now belligerent in their criticism are/were not ignorant of the cost and cost overruns of previous works. Therefore, their sudden expressions are inconsistent with their previous and current knowledge. It is unreasonable to imply that he is attempting to justify the cost of the current project by equivocation.
What Jamaica needs is better engineers who review the work done by 'consultants' .

rag monty
6/9/2011

The main problem the governemnts face, both PNP and JLP is the can do what we dont know mentality. From the state of the roads in Jamaica we could conclude that people here cant build roads cause I hear roads elsewhere are to be admired. Adding to that the old economics term "there is no free lunch" is not one that Jcans believe in; so these guys have to way underbid to get the contract then try to work in the real price once the work starts. Roads cost from 100k us per mile to build (depending)

johnny gordon
6/9/2011

It's not so much you do it so I can. It is, if it is wrong for me why was it right for you. One project should not be subjected to maximum scrutiny while a comparable questionable one gets a free pass. Did Christie feel the need to investigate Mount Rosser and Bogue? Maybe a side by side audit would do wonders to clear up any doubts. Naah, that would be too easy.

Stephen Fox
6/9/2011

Provide the information to the media. Let it be published. Answer all the questions. Let the chips fall where they may. You cannot use the expense of another road to justify the expense of this road. This road must be justified on its own merits.

Nadine Johnson
6/9/2011

Oh Mr Vaz My My $800mil for Mr Shaw gold road. Mr Wong say the money for the lands not in it ,Mr Shaw say $150mil used for paying lands.. Then you are saying Tax payers must not ask question. Mr Vaz do you see and hear the same things that we are reading. This gold road who Mr Wong say will cost us $800mil + Lands and now the rains has come and it start to wash away for 1km and Jamaicans must keep silent. Mr Shaw say one thing and Wong say another it is Stink with Corruption.

Better Must-Come
6/9/2011

@Anthony and Orville. Whenever something goes wrong under a Jamaican politician's watch, they choose to "justify" it by saying someone else did it as well. These guys knows what they are doing. They know that a large part of the Jamaican populace think in those terms. They will get support when they offer up rubbish explanations like Mr. Vaz did.

lisa lue yen
6/9/2011

I'm told that it has been 50 years that this bypass has been in the making but we didn't have the technology to build it due to the terrain of Christiana aka capital of middle JA. China Harbour has brought their expertise (along with their 18 engineers) to Jamaica. Take note that the Great Wall of China, 1 of the 7 Wonders of the World, was built in 7 BC and over 2000 years later it still stands. I'm sure that these bridges will last for many years. China builds for generations.

Better Must-Come
6/9/2011

"Contractor General Greg Christie has since written to National Works Agency boss Patrick Wong, demanding details on the cost of the roadwork." Instead of "demanding" could the word "requesting" have been used instead? The Observer of late seem to be more into making Inflammatory statements and putting out misleading headlines, instead of a professional depiction of the stories they report on. The stories of late seem flat and devoid of any substance. Tabloid journalism?

Brooklyn Jamaican
6/9/2011

When will government workers get their 7% cost overrun?

Chuck Emanuel
6/9/2011

Here we go again !. Every time someone screws up JA (domestic) affairs, we quickly look to draw a parallel to either the US and "everyone else".
So, what ever happened to standing up for decency, against corruption, and what is right ?.
Additionally, this is the same messenger who refused to tell the country where he got the money from to fund the wire transfer to MPP .
Again, Credibility and Trust have been compromised, consequently so too is the ability to lead effectively .

Devon T
6/9/2011

I myself apreciate that these sums that goes on contracts are seriously flawed and i am leaning to the belief that because of the underhanded method where its something for something, the contractors are milking for "protection money" from the Government and thus are getting justifications for overruns. What happen to egally binding contracts? if you say $1 then you are bound to complete the project for $150 if you underquoted. If you underquote for a job then you are incable to do the job.

Orville Davis
6/9/2011

Mr Vaz, you and your government are not there to replicate the mismanagement of public funds as the PNP did when in government. Irrespective of what the PNP did whilst in government, you would agree that something has clearly gone wrong in terms of costing here! A responsible government would admit to mistakes, and look for ways of preventing such mistakes from ever happening again. Is this government the JLP or PNP part 2?

Anthony C
6/9/2011

What Daryl is saying the PNP did it therefore is alright for the JLP to do the same.Is this the group of bright young educated people the JLP claim they are and choose to follow the PNP footsteps.What is the purpose of today's tour? shouldn't Mike Henry already known the kind of work taking place in Christiana?What if he goes in today and see something different will he tell the nation? Hope i will get to see those bridges Mr.Wong spoke off,I want to see if that bridge is 1 mile long.

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‘HYPOCRITES’ - Gov't chides critics of Christiana Development Rd