MONTEGO BAY, St James — Former managing director of the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) and People’s National Party (PNP) advisor Kingsley Thomas has pushed back against the assertion that the party achieved little during its almost 20 consecutive years in office.

“There is something that is happening in the country where a narrative is being developed that nothing was done by the People’s National Party Government for 18 years; a narrative which seems to be taking root in certain areas,” said Thomas on Thursday as he addressed party supporters during a PNP Region Six Outreach Committee fund-raising cocktail party held under the theme ‘Learning from history to navigate tomorrow’.

Widely regarded as the development point man for the PNP Administration of 1992–2006, Thomas headed the DBJ for more than 16 years up to 2005.

He pointed to the Montego Bay Bypass project, which he said was initiated in 2003 under a PNP Government, as an example of the party’s accomplishments.

“That was a project conceptualised and developed at the Development Bank of Jamaica while I was the CEO. On February 25, 2003, after serious negotiation, the Government of Jamaica signed an agreement with the Government of Malaysia for the construction of the Montego Bay Bypass,” said Thomas, who noted his affiliation with the PNP but emphasised that his primary allegiance is to Jamaica.

He said the agreement secured a commitment from the Malaysian Government to fund 60 per cent of the project, which was then estimated to cost US$70 million. Jamaica’s contribution would have been US$28 million.

“Twenty-odd years have passed and that is when the bypass is created at a cost [of] four times what it would have cost us in 2003/2004 — US$280 million,” he said.

However, the ruling Jamaica Labour Party-led Administration has repeatedly said ongoing work on the US$247-million Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project encompasses the Montego Bay Bypass, upgrades to Barnett Street and West Green and the Long Hill Bypass.

On Thursday, Thomas expressed disappointment that the PNP’s role in conceptualising the project has been left out of the national conversation.

“There is a total disconnect as if that project was not conceptualised by a previous Administration. That is what is happening. That is the narrative that is being spread around the place — as if nothing was done during the People’s National Party’s term in office, that nothing was done,” declared Thomas.

He also criticised the renaming of Highway 2000 to TransJamaica Highway Limited, describing the move as an attempt to downplay the PNP’s role. Despite what he saw as a failure to give credit where it is due, he encouraged standard-bearers to think outside the box.

“Did you know that Highway 2000, which was considered a mad man idea, has now seen over 50 million toll users? And did you know that the east west corridor, which is run by TransJamaica Highway, in the history of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, has paid the second-highest dividend to the public? But if you know what you’re doing is right, if you know that in the medium and long term it will turn out proper, then go ahead. Put your head down and do what you have to do,” he advised.