Change of oversight for South Coast Highway project long overdue, says Phillips

By Warren Bertram    

 

Opposition Spokesperson on Transport and Works, Mikael Phillips, says the announcement that National Works Agency chief E.G. Hunter will directly supervise the South Coast Highway Improvement Project is long overdue.

 

Mr. Phillips says given the issues which have been plaguing the project and how it is being handled, the government has not been moving urgently enough to address the concerns raised. 

 

"We have contractors who have abandoned their package [of roadway]. And I think in this instance...with all good intentions, that the government, we have taken on more than we can manage at the same time," he reasoned.  

 

Mr. Phillips outlined that through parliamentary committees, he and others have been trying to determine who was the lead on the project from the onset of the issues. But he complained that the NWA head, who was present at those meetings, would use "technical terms to speak about who owns the contract". 

 

"But it is just like if you employ a contractor to build your house and if he is not building it to the satisfaction of which you are happy about, then you are going to intervene with that contractor. And the government of Jamaica, be it that monies come from China Exim Bank, it is a loan to the people of Jamaica. Taxpayers have to pay that loan. So we own the contract. We employ China Harbour as the contractor to effect the works. So the contract is owned by the government of Jamaica," he insisted.   

 

He was speaking Wednesday on TVJ's All Angles.