KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness says that the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) has been asked to provide oversight during all phases of a $630-million road repair programme.

According to Holness, the move comes as the Government implements measures to enhance best practices in works projects with $10 million each allocated to pothole patching, drain cleaning and de-bushing in 63 constituencies.

“As we advance Jamaica we must advance Jamaica on the pathway of efficiency, probity, and effectiveness and that must be the hallmark of this Government,” said Holness.

The prime minister insisted that the Government expects value for money and will hold technocrats accountable for the quality of the work.

“I have noted the concerns about the quality of some of the works undertaken in recent times. I want to assure the people of Jamaica that I expect quality for work under this programme. To this end I have invited the Office of the Contractor General to have a free hand in ensuring that all requirements of sound and reasonable contracting is observed and to assist in the inspection of the works that have been contracted before payments are made,” Holness declared.

The programme is expected to continue beyond the holiday season.

“I am not expecting this to be treated as Christmas work. It will start before the Christmas season, it will go through the Christmas season and it will continue after the Christmas season. We will clean up Jamaica and we will make Jamaica nice again,” Holness said.