$1.2b well spent

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has defended his Administration’s decision to issue contracts in excess of $1. 2 billion to build bases for approximately 2,500 semi-permanent houses for people whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Melissa last October. “There is a criticism that the cost of building the bases [is] extremely high, and I reflected on this. If we are going to build bases for temporary houses should we just go and put the stumps in the ground and leave it? We could probably do that... but would that have built resilience for the next hurricane? ” Holness said. The prime minister was speaking Tuesday morning at a signing ceremony between the Government of Jamaica and the World Bank to formalise a grant for US$5 million (more than $700 million) towards the National Reconstruction Implementation Support Project, part of Jamaica’s national resilient rebuilding efforts.

The prime minister explained that work surrounding building of the bases includes excavation of foundations, installation of sewerage and water distribution systems, transportation and other infrastructural fixtures. As a result, he said, they can be used, in the future, in the construction of permanent buildings. Turning his attention to the World Bank grant, Holness stressed that there are clearly defined plans for the funding which was designed to strengthen the Government’s capacity to manage and deliver the National Reconstruction Programme. “I am going to hasten to say that this is not the kind of grant that is going to be distributed to everyone. We have received some of those grants and I believe it is now time to give an update as to what we are doing with funds that we have received. But this grant is for technical assistance. That should be made clear,” the prime minister asserted.…