Thu | Mar 28, 2024

Promises, promises and more promises

Published:Friday | February 14, 2020 | 12:00 AM

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Discerning Jamaicans, by now, have become accustomed to promises from political shysters, aka politicians. What is mind-boggling, though, is that every so often, when it matters seriously, dementia, a sequelae resulting from constant bombardment to the brain with political rhetoric, plays a crucial role to the benefit of these shysters who pander to these diehard supporters’ baser instincts. Invariably, these political pawns simply forget all the empty promises that were dished out to them prior.

The governor general (GG), Sir Patrick Allen, disclosed a number of grandiose promises that the Government has in store for the people. In Jamaica, these timely promises are usually regarded by the people as a harbinger to an imminent general election.

In his Throne Speech on February 11, 2020, 45 electric buses are to be added to the JUTC fleet. However, no timeline was given as to when these buses will be acquired. It could be by the year 2050, no one knows for certain.

There was a commitment to build 100,000 houses in the new fiscal year. According to the GG, “we need to build enough housing solutions at a rate which will prevent informal settling”. The building of houses in and of itself doesn’t prevent squatting. And if the announcement was sincere, and there was conviction to the promise, the script should have read “we shall build enough housing solutions”.

Coming on stream this year, water supply for approximately 180,000 Jamaicans living in rural areas. I only hope that after the announcement, there will be no stakeholder inputs to increase the supply and improve the efficiency of the system, thus preventing the on time implementation of the project.

SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET

Video-link digital recording equipment to be installed in 78 courtrooms. Are they all complete and functioning?

Government to roll out Greater Infrastructure Development Programme (GIDP), to replace Major Infrastructure Development Programme (MIDP). The rationale behind it is that MIDP has run its course. MIDP was the main driver of budgeted infrastructural development in Jamaica, aimed at capital projects, including drains, bridges, sidewalks, street lights, among other things.

Those who are not afflicted with dementia will remember the kerfuffle when the Office of the Contractor General was subsumed into the Integrity Commission.

Interestingly, the matters of crime, corruption, and malfeasance in government all seemed to have been swept under the carpet.

NURVILLE MCLEOD