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

KINGSTON, Jamaica–Opposition Spokesman on Water and Special Projects, Ian Hayles, has stated that communities represented by the parliamentary Opposition are being starved of water projects.Hayles made the charge while pointing to 34 projects listed by the Minister of Water, Matthew Samuda, in his recent contribution to the Sectoral Debate to demonstrate the plan to expand access by constituency.“The challenge is that he listed 34 projects across the country at a cost of 4.2 billion Jamaican dollars. But 3.65 billion, or 85 per cent of this money, was being spent in constituencies with a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament,” said Hayles.“My question is simple: do only constituencies with JLP supporters need expanded access to water?” he said.Addressing Samuda, he said, “Minister, I put it to you, Jamaicans who voted for the PNP (People’s National Party) Members of Parliament also need access to water. And to further make my point, remember that JLP supporters also live in constituencies with PNP Members of Parliament”.Hayles said it was for this reason that he was recommending a transparent system for identifying projects to expand access, and that these projects be published with a quarterly project update.“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.