The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) yesterday accused the government of partisan use of public funds in several targeted constituencies, suggesting the administration had the coming elections in mind.

The charges were made by several speakers at yesterday’s monthly meeting of the JLP’s Area Council One (Kingston and St Andrew) at the Meadowbrook High School.

Party chairman Dr Ken Baugh said that a number of constituencies represented by the JLP were being excluded from various programmes, while funds were approved for spending in constituencies held by People’s National Party (PNP) candidates.

“They are finding ways and means of spending money in the JLP constituencies without the knowledge of the Member of Parliament. It is a new low in inter-party relationship. It means that the laws are not being respected,” Dr Baugh told the delegates.

He cited two Clarendon constituencies – South East,which is represented by Ruddy Spencer (JLP), and North Central, represented by Pearnel Charles (JLP) – where the MPs allegedly were left off a recent $100 million works programme, while their opponents were allowed to spend public funds on projects like street lighting.

Baugh was supported by Kingston mayor, Councillor Desmond McKenzie who alleged that in North East St Andrew, represented by the JLP’s Delroy Chuck, the PNP was involved in cleaning a gully which was already cleaned by the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC), and that the PNP candidate for West Central St Andrew was spending as much public funds as the JLP MP, Andrew Holness.

And JLP deputy leader Derrick Smith warned that the MPs were not prepared to continue absorbing the blame for the bad roads.

“I am giving the prime minister notice. I am giving the security forces notice too that we will be taking to the roads if the funds are not provided,” he threatened.