Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda has brushed aside allegations made by Opposition Spokesman Ian Hayles that he has politicised the expansion of water projects across Jamaica, calling the notion “abject nonsense”.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday, Samuda rejected suggestions that water infrastructure investments were being disproportionately directed to constituencies represented by Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Members of Parliament (MP).

“I would like to spend a moment just to deal with three matters raised in the Parliament yesterday by the Opposition spokesperson on water. The first one I noted covered in the media this morning was his claim that politics is being used for the distribution of water projects. That is abject nonsense, and that is easily provable,” said the minister.

He was responding to comments made by Hayles during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate on Tuesday.

Hayles argued that the 34 projects listed by Samuda in his own Sectoral Debate presentation, valued at approximately $4.2 billion had $3.65 billion, or 85 per cent of the money earmarked for constituencies represented by a member from the ruling party.

He added that the Government should establish a transparent mechanism for selecting water projects and regularly publish progress reports.

“Without this, we will be unable to know whether meaningful progress is being made. In addition, I believe that the country needs a master plan outlining how water access will be expanded. Jamaica deserves to know,” he said.

“My question is simple: do only constituencies with JLP supporters need expanded access to water?”

However, on Wednesday, Samuda insisted that major investments are being made in areas regardless of political affiliation, pointing to several projects being developed or prepared for implementation.

Among them, he cited a $5-billion programme to be financed through the Caribbean Development Bank that will include works in Trelawny, St Mary, St Elizabeth, St Thomas and parts of St Ann.

“We’ll be developing the Green Park water system, which is a system that connects both north west, north east, and yes, south east St Ann, which is the only constituency that has never sat with this current administration. So yes, we are developing a lot of water systems, but the projects are equally shared,” said Samuda.

He also took issue with what he described as Hayles’ omission of major national projects from his assessment, including the Western Resilience Water Project.

According to the minister, the project will benefit communities across Hanover, St James and Westmoreland, including constituencies represented by MPs from the People’s National Party (PNP).

“Now, the last time I checked the budget, we are spending $11 billion this year on this project. The last time I looked at the map, that pipeline will run through eastern Hanover, western Hanover and western Westmoreland,” he said. “I can’t imagine how such a ludicrous statement could be made when $11 billion is being spent, and three of the constituencies that will benefit the most are indeed held by the Opposition. It’s nonsense, and it should be rebutted as such.”

READ: Hayles accuses Gov’t of bypassing PNP constituencies as it expands water supply