KINGSTON, Jamaica — Portland Western Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz has rubbished a claim by Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, the Opposition MP for Portland Eastern, that the Government’s controversial $600 million bushing programme has resumed in the parish.

Bloomfield had said in a release yesterday that a contract was recently signed for $6 million in Kingston and work started in Portland without his knowledge and involvement.

This, he said, involves work in the Blue Lagoon/Blue Hole area, guided by a MP from another constituency.

However, Vaz, who is also minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, said in a release this morning that the work being done now is not a part of the $600 million bushing programme.

“I, as minister and MP, submitted a list of tourism-related roads/projects for the parish of Portland (both East and West Portland) to the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) for consideration,” Vaz explained.

“Blue Lagoon Road, where rental villas are located, was approved and the National Works Agency (NWA) was designated as the implementing agency. The project was tendered by the NWA and a contractor selected using Government procurement guidelines. It is the implementing agency, through the NWA parish office, that should officially inform the member of Parliament despite me verbally doing so,” he said.

“The Blue lagoon Road was last repaired in 2009 /10 when I made the same representation to the TEF and there were no complaints or objection by the then MP Donald Rhodd.

“As senior MP for the parish of Portland and Government minister it is my duty and responsibility to lobby and make representation on behalf of the parish and people of Portland as I have always done.

“I have also made representation to the TEF for other projects in the parish including repairs of Winnifred public beach road as MP Bloomfield has failed to make representation for neither Blue hole road nor Winnifred beach during his tenure as MP,” Vaz said.