GOVERNMENT yesterday denied political favouritism in the disbursement of the US$400-million roadwork being done under the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP), but said some communities could legitimately benefit at greater levels based on their “neglect” by the previous administration.

Transport Minister Mike Henry said yesterday that roads selected for rehabilitation were done based on economic decisions rather than political importance.

“The decision is based on the interest (the road has) to the Jamaican economy; I could never as minister decide which is Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which is People’s National Party (PNP); it’s (based on stimulating) the economic recovery. If an area is cut-off, whether it is in a JLP area or PNP area, it has to be connected,” Henry told yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston.

Last week, Opposition PNP members walked out of Parliament during a debate over how funds were managed under the JDIP. A day later the PNP Youth Organisation alleged that the Estimates of Expenditure lacked transparency and left loopholes for “corruption and the abuse” of state resources.

Henry yesterday countered, describing the JDIP as transparent, based on its administration by the National Works Agency. He said that every month the NWA will post an online progress report on JDIP.

In the meantime, Daryl Vaz, the minister responsible for information, said the breakaway at Fridays in Portland, where a market truck crashed and killed 14 Jamaicans will be officially reopened next week.

The repairs at Fridays and the surrounding Rio Grande Valley were long overdue, said Vaz.

“The road to the Rio Grande Valley has been in a deplorable condition. Originally the first aspect of the repairs was done on the Alligator Church Bridge which was condemned over 10 years ago. Now it has been completely repaired. Fridays is (now) driveable and therefore that will allow for the road and drainage network for the next phase,” he said. “In terms of the actual spot where the truck went over that wall is being repaired. But that is a minor part of the overall repairs of the Rio Grande Valley,” Vaz said.

This fiscal year, the Ministry of Transport and Works plans to increase spending on road works from $9.3 billion to $9.8 billion, but the increase primarily reflects a rise in the ministry’s provision to the Road Maintenance Fund (RMF) — from $1.6 billion to $2.2 billion. In turn, the RMF, which is treated as a separate public body and which is charged with overseeing JDIP projects, will increase its capital expenditure from $5.4 billion to $ 8.7 billion. Under the US$400-million, five-year JDIP, 85 per cent is funded through a loan from the China Export Import Bank and 15 per cent from the Government of Jamaica derived from the special consumption tax on fuel and inflows from motor vehicle licences.