MINISTER of State for Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Senator Kern Spencer, says the government will continue distributing Cuban energy-saving bulbs to Jamaican householders and will not allow the project to be derailed by rumours or other “political” interferences.

“This is a programme which we are not going to yield on. It is going to yield significant benefits for the poor people – especially, of this country – and we are going to implement it without any sort of political interference,” he told the Senate on Friday.

He was responding to questions from Opposition senators.

Under the 4M Project, more than four million fluorescent light bulbs from Cuba are being distributed to Jamaican householders by Cuban and Jamaican social workers.

Spencer said that more that 1,500 Cubans – 25 per constituency – would be involved in the distribution of the bulbs.

He told the Senate that the bulbs were first offered by Cuban president Fidel Castro during a meeting with Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, on a recent visit to Cuba.

The project was piloted in Paulwell’s East Kingston and Port Royal constituency, as well as East Rural St Andrew, which is represented by the JLP’s Joseph Hibbert. Under this programme, 83,466 fluorescent bulbs were distributed free of cost in the constituencies. The 4M project that the government is now stoutly defending, is a continuation of this programme. It is being spearheaded by the ministry and executed by the Petroluem Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ).

Spencer said that in addition to the bulbs, the Cuban government had committed a number of Cubans to physically go into the Jamaicans homes to distribute the bulbs.

He said that under phase two, four more constituencies are being added – his own North-east St Elizabeth; South-west St Elizabeth; Eastern Portland; and South-West St Andrew.

But the Senate came close to disintegrating into an uproar as Spencer read ministry response, after objections from the JLP senators, led by the Leader of Opposition Business Senator Anthony Johnson.

“The question is why is it that a Cuban has to enter every household in Jamaica to show you how to screw in your bulb?” Senator Johnson asked.

The situation further deteriorated when Spencer, in responding to a question from Senator Christopher Tufton (JLP), claimed that people were trying to cause trouble by claiming that “there were cameras in the bulbs”, among other rumours.

Tufton, the JLP’ caretaker in South-west St Elizabeth, rose on a Point of Order, accusing the minister of wasting the time of the Senate. Tufton said that there was a brochure on the distribution of the bulbs being distributed in North-east St Elizabeth prominently bearing the Spencer’s image.

Tufton asked if when the project started in East Kingston the brochures there carried the picture of the MP for that constituency – Phillip Paulwell – or Spencer?.

“I want to know how the method of the distribution is going to be dealt with to ensure that it is not done in a way that is partisan?” Tufton insisted.

Spencer said that at the start of the project Paulwell was in charge, but that subsequent to the pilot project he (Spencer) had been given responsibility for the project.

“So for example, you are going to see some more pictures in the other constituencies setting out and explaining the programme from the minister of state in charge of the programme,” he said.

Tufton said that he is not against good projects, but he was still not convinced about this project.

Senator Dorothy Lightbourne (JLP) pointed out that in answer to the questions which had been tabled by Williams, Spencer had said that Cuban social workers will be in Jamaica to distribute the bulbs.

“Is it necessary for social workers to come from Cuba to distribute these bulbs?” Lightbourne asked.

“That was part of the package that was negotiated with Cuba. We have to ensure that every single bulb is accounted for, and I don’t believe there should be anything wrong if the Cubans, who have the experience in implementing this programme before, come here and assist the programme,” Spencer said.

Spencer also said that similar programmes had been implemented in South Africa and Mexico.

He said that the initial cost of the project would be borne by the Cuban government. The entire project will cost US$5.7 million but since the bulbs were a gift to the Jamaican government, it would only cost the country US$3.4 million

Senator Tufton asked why the usual process of engaging civic and community-based organisations was not applied under this project.

“To what extent are these types of organisations engaged in terms of discussions, and are a part of the distribution of the product?” Tufton said.

Spencer explained that at the start of the project only one constituency was involved – East Kingston and Port Royal. He said that because that initial programme was successful and because it was executed in an “accountable way, we have now convinced them that we will take the project” island wide.

“We are in the process now of clearing 250,000 bulbs from the wharf. And there are so many things that we never envisioned, which relate to some technical things which need to be done to get the bulbs on the ground and into the constituencies,” Spencer said.

He noted that the project was still in the teething stages but said that as it moved into phase two, there were some discussions about a public education programme that would involve some of these groups.

“Within the next two weeks or so, you are going to see a fulsome document setting out the roles and responsibility of the Cuban government, of the Jamaican government and in particular, the ministry,” Spencer added.