Chinese benevolence in response to that country’s quest for number-one world economic status is working out well for Jamaica. In recent times they have demonstrated that Jamaica is a country with which they would like to do business. Their substantial and appropriate investment in the sugar industry is a case in point, as is their low-interest loan of US$400 million for developing the nation’s infrastructure programme that is being rolled out by the government.

The government is wise to align its fortunes with those of China. As a net lender to the United States and having attained the status as the second largest economy in the world, the country is poised to be a leading economic world power to reckon with. It has been said that the 20th century belonged to the United States and the 21st belongs to China. Despite the feudal cultural allegiances that still bedevil the Chinese economy, it is not far-fetched that China will become the number one economic power in the next 25 years, especially if America does not get its economic house in order.

It is unlikely that given the economic problems that America faces we could have had a bilateral loan of this magnitude from that country at this time. Even if we did, it certainly would not be under three per cent. The government is wise to be establishing this kind of strategic alliance with China and to be doing so this early. We can only be pulled along by this great locomotive. While we do business with them, I would hope that some of their legendary work ethic will rub off on us. The infrastructure programme that has been launched is one that could benefit from this ethic. A Chinese firm (CHEC) is in charge of the project and that is good in itself. But the project is being done in Jamaica, and expatriate firms that have worked on projects here have complained of difficulties they encounter when doing business in this country. There is the tendency for these projects to be hobbled by political cleavages as political palms have to be greased for the projects to be executed. This greasing of the palm ranges from partisan hacks being given jobs on worksites to officials getting goodwill kickbacks for their effort in “assisting” with the contract. The unions will probably get in on the action as they are not likely to bypass a gravy train when they see one.

Already the charge of partisan bias has been levelled against the JDIP. Member of Parliament for Central Manchester, Peter Bunting, recently boycotted the

roll-out of the project in Christiana. The reason for his boycott is that he sees political bias in how the work has been allocated in Manchester, with a greater concentration of the work going to the sole JLP constituency in Manchester held by the finance minister. These claims have been rejected by both the minister of transport and works and the executive director of the National Works Agency that will be overseeing the massive project. Of one thing we can be assured: there is no way a project of this magnitude could be undertaken in Jamaica without there being a charge of partisanship in its execution. But whether there is political bias or not, Mr Bunting’s concern must not be brushed aside even though one would expect this broadside from an Opposition party. His appeal for transparency and fairness in the distribution of the work cannot be underestimated, and government spokespersons on the project would be well advised to temper their own response to these criticisms.

The fact that the PNP did it when they were in power is no reason why the JLP should continue on the same path. If we are to bring back a sense of moral probity to governance, everything must be done to resist the temptation to do things the old way or to repay evils that have been perpetrated by an earlier administration. And the temptation to do things the old way is amplified by large projects in a pre-election environment. Even the most politically naïve among us will see that the roll-out of this project is well timed to fulfil a pre-election agenda. Being masters of this chicanery, the PNP undoubtedly realises how great a fillip this will be for the governing JLP. They have not been averse to using the people’s resources to buttress and enhance their election prospects, as was clearly admitted in Dr Davies’ Meadowbrook confession that they were not going to “stop the progress” in important projects being undertaken in an election year.

There is no doubt that a project of this size will stimulate the economy, if even in the short term. It will create jobs and, if done right, it will generate a “feel-good” euphoria in a run-up to the election due in two years and for which active campaigning will soon begin. All this is not lost on the PNP, but there is not a great deal that they can do about it, except to criticise and offer hallowed protests against it as if they themselves are squeaky clean. There is a self-serving agenda, if not a sense of desperation in their protests against this, as they fear it will enhance the JLP’s chance for a second term. Politicians have their agenda which is all about political power. They would not be politicians if this were not the case. It is the people who must insist that they do the people’s business with fairness and transparency. There is no JLP or PNP road. As the prime minister said, there can be no government road or parish council road. The JLP will do the country a tremendous good if it handles this project well in the interest of all Jamaicans. We hope this reality is not lost on Mr Henry.

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