PNP warns Gov't against corruption in road project

General Secretary of the People's National Party (PNP), Julian Robinson has sounded a warning to the Government that if the more than $600 million earmarked for road projects in St Mary is used in a "corrupt" manner to influence the outcome of a by-election, the Opposition would not cooperate with the administration on critical national issues.

Addressing journalists at a press conference at the National Arena yesterday, Robinson said the PNP was not opposed to work being done in areas where it is needed, adding that the Junction road in St Mary is in urgent need of repairs.

"I am going to issue a warning to the Government. If they use this money as a means of trying to corruptly influence this (pending) by-election, the PNP is going to stoutly resist it."

OCG urged to monitor project

Robinson said he would be urging the Office of the Contractor General and Political Ombudsman Donna Parchment Brown to monitor the works to be carried out ensure that "they are being done in a fair manner".

He said the Holness administration had carried out a massive debushing exercise in the run-up to Local Government elections last year.

"The OCG, in his report, said the Government had corruptly used these funds, had bypassed the established procurement mechanisms. We are going to be watching it very carefully, and we don't believe that it is a coincidence that the announcement has been made on what seems to be the eve of an announcement of a by-election."

He said the late Dr Winston Green, who was the member of parliament for St Mary South East, had been clamouring for the Government to carry out repairs to roads in his constituency, but it never happened while he was alive.