WATCH: PM defends Gov’t MPs, projects amid criticism from Opposition MP in Manchester
MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has hit back at criticism made by Opposition Member of Parliament Mikael Phillips suggesting that Government MPs were doing a poor job in Manchester.
Phillips, MP for Manchester North Western, last Sunday told the People’s National Party (PNP) Manchester Central constituency conference that former MPs aligned to the PNP did a better job in representing Manchester South and Central now held by Government MPs Robert Chin and Rhoda Crawford respectively.
Holness, in addressing the handing over of a housing unit to a fire victim in Beverly, St Paul’s in Manchester on Friday took Phillips to task and outlined several projects underway in the parish.
“My good friend went to great lengths to say much was not being done in this parish and his constituency and these matters are quite subjective and whilst he may have given an opinion that is not rooted in facts I wish to bring some facts to the attention of the public in the presence of my good friend, Mikael” said Holness while speaking in Phillips’ constituency.
“In 2020 just when the [COVID-19] pandemic hit Mandeville was affected by water, it is a little distant away, no one would have remembered that, but we have spent over $1.4 billion on the Greater Mandeville Water Improvement Project,” said Holness.
He said 34,000 households will benefit from the water system.
“The complaints used to be many but since the project is in progress we have not been getting that many complaints even during the drought, because it has improved quality of life,” Holness said.
“That is something that may escape people, because again it is not a pain point, it is being solved so nobody remembers that, but it should be remembered that we did spend significant resources to bring water to Manchester,” added Holness.
He noted that the Greater Mandeville Traffic Management Implementation is nearing completion.
“There were some complaints, because any change in traffic management would have impact on commerce, but I think generally the people of Mandeville are quite happy with the improvements in traffic flow,” he said.
Holness reiterated that the expected benefits to be derived from the May Pen to Williamsfield leg of Highway 2000 set for completion in August.
“That is a massive investment in infrastructure. I must say that it will improve driving time, it will open up new areas for development, it will certainly bring new economic benefit and value to Mandeville,” he emphasised.
The highway project — which will reduce travel time between Kingston, Mandeville and other points west — was originally scheduled for completion in October 2022. The last date for completion given was March 2023 and before that a timeline for January 2023.
Holness then shifted his focus to other road developments.
“The Government is understanding of this issue. We have done in my opinion a very good job in developing our major roadways, our highways and not just developing them, but connecting them in a logical way to advance our economic progress,” he said.
He said roads in some parts of deep-rural Jamaica have not been repaired in decades.
“… These roads have not been attended to for a very long time, but people are frustrated. People are not of the level of patience to say well it has been that way forever that how it is going to be, especially our young people they want to see change. They sense that there is an opportunity for change, because they see the highways that are being built. They see the main roads that are being repaired and they are saying ‘we want our roads too’. Yes, there is an opportunity for change, because we have managed the opportunity so well that we now have fiscal space to allocate $40 billion from the budget over the next two years to repair local roads,” said Holness.
“I think my point is made [by] Mikael, it is the [political] season. You can debate opinions, but you can’t debate facts,” Holness told Phillips.
– Kasey Williams