Dear Editor,

It has been drawn to our attention that since the change of administration, a number of road projects under the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) have been halted. These roads which were under construction are now at risk of costing the Jamaican taxpayers more. This is further exacerbated by the fact that the country is quickly approaching the hurricane season which could spell disaster on those roads where construction has been halted.

We are therefore imploring Transport and Works Minister Dr Omar Davies and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to explain their decision so we can understand why it is in the best interest of the country to make such a move. We also seek clarification on the roles of the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) and the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme, as it seems as if the JDIP has been re-branded as JEEP.

Will these roads be fixed by JDIP or by JEEP? We are not clear where is the line of demarcation between the two. We call on the government for information so we Jamaicans can understand how every dollar of our taxes are being spent, which in turn means we are getting the leadership of consultation and transparency that the PNP campaigned on.

We also call on Minister of Finance Dr Peter Phillips to look again at the budget, because the new tax package on basic food items is like telling a child what he can eat, and based on the new tax, there is not much of an option. We also urge government members to take a pay cut, as it is clear that all public sector workers and Jamaicans have to tighten their belts. We remind the PNP government that on their election campaign, they admitted that Jamaicans can’t buy food. They even went on to say that people under a PNP government would not have to sell “bag juice” anymore. The PNP was subsequently elected for a change.

Ziggy Effion Lewis

Chairperson

G2K Chapter, Virgin Islands

effionlewis@ymail.com