JEEP hits pothole - Portia raps critics

‘Non-partisan’ road programme launched instead

BY ALESIA EDWARDS Observer staff reporter alesiae@jamaicaobserver.com

Thursday, January 26, 2012

SALEM, St Ann — The Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) swerved off course yesterday when it failed to start as the highly-touted work programme Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was set to launch here.

Simpson Miller, without giving reasons, backtracked on her previous announcement of the launch of JEEP and instead unveiled another initiative that she called 'Performance-Based Routine Road Maintenance Project' for the North Coast Highway.

"This is not the launch of JEEP. The fact, however, is this programme that we are launching today is in keeping with the JEEP concept which is to create productive work for our people," said Simpson Miller, her serious demeanour masking obvious embarrassment.

She added that aspects of the JEEP would be rolled out in the weeks ahead, particularly in the areas of agriculture, construction, transportation and information communication technology (ICT).

The prime minister, in addressing the People's National Party (PNP) National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios last Sunday, said the first phrase of JEEP would have been launched yesterday and was expected to provide 700 jobs in seven parishes.

The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) immediately criticised the programme, accusing the PNP of rebranding an initiative it conceptualised while it was in government.

"It's clear that JEEP, as announced, is misleading the public that the Government has created 700 new jobs, when in fact this programme was already in train," the Opposition spokesman on transport and works, Karl Samuda said in a news release Monday.

According to Samuda, the Ministry of Finance had initiated a loan from the Inter-Amercian Development Bank (IDB), and a memorandum of understanding was signed on December 5 last year with the Ministry of Transport and Works and the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) to implement a comprehensive road maintenance programme on the North Coast Highway from Negril to Port Antonio.

Dr Omar Davies, the new transport and works minister, had prepared a radio audience yesterday morning, saying that JEEP would not be launched as previously announced. But he declined to elaborate.

Simpson Miller later told a large gathering, which included a representative from the IDB, several PNP Members of Parliament, Cabinet ministers and representatives of state agencies, that Davies would soon announce the launch of JEEP, which she described as being in good condition "with a good running engine and brand new spare tyres".

"I am not going to waste any time to deal with trivial matters, because the interest of the nation is more important than being distracted to deal with any trivial matters," Simpson Miller said as she hit back at those who have been criticising the programme.

Speaking before Simpson Miller, the transport and works minister said the Government was not playing "one-upmanship" adding that the current administration believed in continuity once the programme "is sensible".

"We believe in continuity where there are sensible programmes which were on stream, and this is one sensible programme," Dr. Davies said. "Even whilst we hail this sensible programme it is instructive that what this programme is about — maintenance, employing people — is precisely what we are criticised for putting forward."

He said the JEEP, when launched, would be done as a formal programme and would be tabled in Parliament where all the details would be outlined.

The prime minister, meanwhile, said that the Performance-Based Routine Road Maintenance would see work being carried out on 270 km of roadway along the north coast from Negril to Port Antonio.

She said the project was financed through a US$10-m loan agreement with the IDB, and she acknowledged that the loan agreement was signed with the IDB on December 5 last year.

"And I am not taking away anything from anybody, the agreement was signed on December 5, 2011. Let me, on behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, express appreciation to the IDB for its continued assistance in helping us realise our national development goals."

Simpson Miller said the NSWMA which will undertake the work, would have to adhere to several guidelines, including the engagement of both skilled and unskilled labour from communities where the highway exists.

Some 700 persons should gain employment and about 100 of that amount are to be trained by HEART/NTA and the NSWMA. Simpson Miller said no one should be transported from outside of the participating communities for work there.

"The people in their natural environment when work is going to be undertaken must be given the work unless we have to bring in someone with the skill that is not available or technical persons..."

The prime minister also sought to make it clear that the programme was not a partisan or political one and she said all MPs that the programme would impact were invited to the launch of the project.

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COMMENTS (33)

St. Ann
1/26/2012

@Yhan Yhan. It wasn't a mistake why we the people voted out the JLP, and we were not WRONG! People living in poverty in Jamaica has more than doubled since the JLP came to power, and they did nothing about. Portia Simpson Miller knows if she doesn't deliver she and the PNP will suffer the same consequences or worse!!

Dwight Hendricks
1/26/2012

And this "JEEP" i keep hearing about, just another election ploy, all the money it will take to run this program and the country is already in a staggering debt. and "Mark Forbes" youre an idiot to be comparing the JLP's time with the PNP. the PNP have had more cabinets than the JLP since independent, not to mention a long stretch of 18yrs, so dont blame the JLP who barely got 4 years. nobody should complain about hard times, after all its what the poeple wanted. 41-22. enjoy it.

Dwight Hendricks
1/26/2012

Jamaicans do not read, and are so used to handouts, so give them a can of macarel and some rice before an election and a brown envelope with 5 $100.00 bill and you get their votes, just plain greedy. thats the only way to explain the PNP going back into office again and so soon. its still hard for me to process the defeat the JLP face at the polls. and already the PNP is back to being deceitful. but how can you expect them to change? when they know how to trick the jamaican electorate?

Ramon Castro
1/26/2012

Appreciate the contribution of public sector workers. But, do they really pay taxes or they basically lend back some of what govt give them. Case in point -- a govt worker makes $250,000/yr, pays 30% in various taxes. $75,000 goes back into the govt coffer. My point, with the ratio of govt workers and the population so ridiculous, the govt (PNP/JLP) should be looking to reduce its workforce rather than borrowing money to pay for crash program work.Who is going to supply the machete, rakes, stool

Ramon Castro
1/26/2012

@Mark Forbes -- For the next 5 yrs, the buck stops at the PNP. With only 500 keystrokes one has to conservative. I could say the same about the JLP. per your query. The issue is not me or you. It is with the government who was elected to lead this great country. Let than a month in office and deception start. Switching "black dog for monkey" is never a good thing. The result will always be the same. If my comment was directed at the JLP -- u would definitely not response the way u did.

D T
1/26/2012

What most people in Ja dont undersrtand is that Ja economy depends on the world economy. The world is still in a recession so the promise by any govt of Ja is not real but only a promise so they can win elections. The govt should provide an enviornment for business to invest and create jobs, the govt cant create and sustain jobs for the nation. How can you create a good place to invest when we are in recession. The PNP will see what the JLP faced while in govt let see how they manage it

Cookie Bulla
1/26/2012

@Wanda Woe-man, I take it that you are a PNP first before you are a Jamaican. I even question if you are a Jamaican. You can't keep making apologies for things that are so obvious. The PNP is clearly on a deceptive path.You see it and won't call it. Where are we going?

Jay Brown
1/26/2012

Is Bruce Golding still the Prime Minister or what ?

Luv Quest
1/26/2012

We ask for the truth and they gave us the answer byway of a parable and an acronym called JEEP. The JEEP is in full effect; it is just that we expect it to drive straight. JEEPs have to make turns and go around corners remember some roads have many twist and turns. This JEEP will be out of sight sometimes and that is because it is going around corners, but don’t worry it will reappear only to disappear around another corner. Want to get a glimpse? It will be tabled (parked) in Parliament soon.

Cookie Bulla
1/26/2012

As my grandmother used to say in the most hilarious way
"De people dem naw laaan" - The people don't learn !!

Cookie Bulla
1/26/2012

It appears Portia Simpson found out that JEEP that the PNP fooled the Jamaican electorate with, was nothing more than a catchy name given to the JLP's work program which was already funded and in progress.

rohan thompson
1/26/2012

Does this mean that the pathological mendacity is spreading? Next thing does Ms Robinson get an apology?

0o k
1/26/2012

Oh so now, Comrade Leadership believes in continuity.....Good!

Yhan Yhan
1/26/2012

History has shown on many occasions that the masses can be wrong and certainly this is another classic example. Unfortunately, the same mass of people who suffer the consequences are the ones who continue to make the same mistakes. WHEN WILL WE LEARN??

Wary One
1/26/2012

@Wanda woeman, I'm amazed at your thinking. What Jamaicans are asking for is transparency, truth and not the deception that the PM has started her 'reign' with. For the PM to come and admit that she lied to the nation and the world at large because the world has an eye on us and for you to be so staunchly defending as if people are opposed to job creation is simply pathetic. Please for the sake of the nation and its growth, let's move forward with developmental ideas and not silly reasoning!

Adam Godson
1/26/2012

@wanda woeman, the other day you accused me of being heartless,when i and others questioned JEEP.
Were or were not the free education and health care initiatives proposed and implemented by the JLP (to help your beloved poor) criticized by your party and yours?
And is the JLP opposing jeep,or merely questioning the long term viability of such a programme in addressing jamaica's employment needs?
I await your answer.

Tajai Grant
1/26/2012

Respect Omar, you did the right thing, there are not many other politicians in Ja like you. I must also add that you more than anyone else in your admin. sounds more like the person in charge.

J W
1/26/2012

A government cannot and should not directly create jobs. Even more so by borrowing to pay for such cash cow programmes, it is unrealistic. I am not sure if our politicans understand the concept of job creation: low debt, stable currency, low interest rates and a high investment friendly environment. Govt has to fund by taxes or borrrowing and either cannot be used to create short term employment programmes.

mike willy
1/26/2012

I am really getting confused just like the previous administration. Recent announcements by PM & Minister of Finance has to be clarified only to find out that what they previous said was not what they ment.
This also shows some symtoms of lack of transparency.
...always remember six is always a half a dozen.

claude russell
1/26/2012

@wanda woeman; you must have been sleeping when JFJ "tek set" on Golding when the extradition request came. They demanded action against Tivoli & then went silent after the bloodbath. They came back to life before the election & joined the crusade to bring the JLP to book for all the deaths in Tivoli & the lies surrounding the whole thing.

Eagle Eyes
1/26/2012

Pothoe? This is more like a VOLCANIC CRATER. We might be in for an enactment of a BIBICAL STORY, that of JONAH & THE WHALE. We will substitute the WHALE as JAMAICA and JONAH as PNP. Look out people.

Mark Forbes
1/26/2012

@RCastro, to imply that only statements from the PNP are untrustworthy is display that the GREEN blood that runs thru ones veins need to be diluted. Or one has been having a Rip van Winkle moment for the last 4 years.
Let's see how much of your brain is covered with green plaque. Where do you stand on this statement: In the past 22 years, 18 years in opposition and 4 years in govt., the JLP COULD NOT come up with a professional, well detailed employment program.

Nejeeper KNG
1/26/2012

The PM of JA holds a management position; yes being PM is to manage the country’s affairs. The best managers are the ones who are visionaries and are comfortable with telling it like it is. A good manager is just as comfortable giving bad news or good news. The managers who lead by misleading are uncomfortable facing reality and telling the truth. We have leaders who give us comfort in promises. A promise is a comfort to a fool. Are we paying attention?

ghost rider
1/26/2012

One would think that with people dying to say “I told you so,” and everything being subject to the deepest scrutiny from the media and civil society (many of which were not in place during the previous administration) the PNP government would see that every “i” is dotted and “t” crossed, before even any utterance, but they seem to not have learned We can understand their zeal to put people to work, but they should see that everything is in place and quite transparent before they jump. Politicians seem to have a tough skin but there are many of us who are not politicians but supporters and they put us in an embarrassing position when they do otherwise.

John Curious
1/26/2012

I wont argue that JEEP is wrong but I will ask where the money is coming from, if the government only employs the much touted 90,000 persons that were impoverished under the JLP administration at the MINIMUM WAGE of JMD 900 a day for a 5 day work week then the costs are as follows:
JMD 81,000,000.00 a day
JMD 1,620,000,000.00 a month or
USD 18,741,323.46 a month at USD 1: JMD 86.44 and
USD 224,895,881.54 annually!

Wayne L
1/26/2012

Time to abandon the catch phrases and just work for the people. All this political pandering just strenghten political tribalist. Right now I can see the PNP is just winging it as they go. Try to find sustainable jobs for people to do and forget about non-productive work (crash program).

J J
1/26/2012

By the way if its not partisan or political does that mean that earlier reports that 11 MPs 9 from the PNP and 2 from the JLP will choose the people with one MP stating that he will choose 10 people who voted JLP 35 who voted PNP and 5 who did not vote. are to now be disregarded???

J J
1/26/2012

DWL No sah Good programme though if it actually gets started

Blindmice Blindmice
1/26/2012

Three words to describe JEEP : Confusion; mendaciousness; and flip-flopping

Son Don
1/26/2012

As my Grandmother use to say, If you can;t kill them with brilliance, baffle them with BS. The only fools in this game is the Jamaican electorate especially the poor and long unemployed.
Promise them any and everything during election campaigning and when you get into office then you start your spin. This is what the now Prime Minister is doing. She now calls it trivial matters!
This game has not changed in fifty years, and unfortunately it will not change in the next fifty.

larry smith
1/26/2012

this is to you,just another political stunt to win the election.there was never a jeep in the first place.and there are still unrealistic people celebrating the victory.not to say sis.p, is not going to try her best,however,i think that the people will soon learn that she is a politician.lets keep an eye for the jeep .well,hopefully it will be new.and even if they changed the name,it would be a good year the contractors.but, when will the jeep comes back to town..hopefully next month..selah

wanda woeman
1/26/2012

The Prime Minister might well get used to it. Any initiative which the party puts forward to help the poor will be attacked with ferocity. Also any ideas for improvement that the JLP didn't think of themselves will be opposed with the same vigour.
Incidentally, I always thought that JFJ was principally against police killings. I don't think I have seen them in this role before.
As a matter of fact they have laid sort of low for the past two years.
Well, agendas and mandates can be changed

Ramon Castro
1/26/2012

Everything this PNP govt say going forward should have a label -- WARNING, TAKE WHAT WE SAY WITH A GRAIN OF SALT!!!. First it was Peter Phillips who had to backtrack on earlier statement he made regarding the IMF deal and now Davies, Portia and Azan all caught with their pants down. Earlier announcement was nothing more than to deceive the public. In the past 22 years, 18 years in govt and 4 years in opposition and the PNP cannot come up with a professionally, well detailed employment program.

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