GENERATION 2000 (G2K) yesterday dismissed the Government’s $50-million sustainable development plan for St Thomas as a vote-catching ploy, arguing that the ruling People’s National Party’s candidates in the parish are under pressure with general elections looming. “It is alarming to us.

We worry about any investment that doesn’t seem logical or rational, or seem like a direct response to election,” G2K President Matthew Samuda told the Jamaica Observer.

Samuda was responding to yesterday’s Observer lead story from the newspaper’s weekly Monday Exchange. “The central government is trying to redirect resources to correct the failure of their candidate by diverting resources where they can.

They had the opportunity before to make the investment, but never deemed it necessary,” Samuda added.

Representatives of the planning committee for the 150th anniversary commemoration of the Morant Bay uprising, which included secretary manager of the St Thomas Parish Council Errol Greene, outlined to the Observer on Monday the plan to redevelop St Thomas, the eastern parish most known for the 1865 revolt against the British.

Greene said the plan, which is supposed to be a roadmap to social and economic growth for St Thomas, is in the very early stages, but that it should be ready in another two years.

The plan is being funded by the National Housing Trust (NHT) and the Sugar Transformation Programme in the sum of $10 million and $40 million, respectively.

But yesterday, G2K, the group of young professionals affiliated to the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), stated in a news release that while it was happy that, the Government has finally heard the cries of JLP MP James Robertson (St Thomas Western) and JLP caretaker Delano Seiveright (St Thomas Eastern), about the need for opportunities for the people of the parish, the manner in which the plan is being put forward raises serious questions.

Samuda argued that it was “absolutely reckless to make promises that are void of details on real and sustainable growth to a parish which has a parish council that earns less than $50 million.

The promises of milk and honey are obviously a ploy to gain votes”. G2K also demanded that the Government explain how it came to be redirecting $10 million from the NHT to help fund the plan, expressing “disgust” at the decision.

Stating that the use of NHT funds in this manner is not in line with the agency’s mandate, G2K called on the Government to tell the Jamaican people the reasons that were given to the NHT board for use of the funds.

“Although [finance minister] Peter Phillips stated that there will be no more ‘run wid it’ projects, he must outline exactly what will be done to ensure that is not the same thing being rebranded,” Samuda said.

The group’s vice-president Dwight Crawford added: “It is full time that the Government assumes its responsibility of uplifting the parish of St Thomas, from being ranked the most impoverished to one that flourishes economically.

The residents are ripe with potential, hence sensible investments that will provide them with employment and economic activity must be made.”