Works minister resigns over JDIP criticism

Jamaica's transport and works minister, Mike Henry, has submitted his resignation with immediate effect following criticism of the US$400mn Jamaica Development Infrastructure Program (JDIP), government news agency JIS reported. Prime Minister Andrew Holness took temporary charge of the program in November and ordered a review, after a report by the country's auditor general showed that the transport and works ministry, the National Works Agency (NWA) and the Road Maintenance Fund had failed to execute the program in a transparent manner. "This is evidenced by inadequate capital project planning, monitoring and record keeping," auditor general Pamela Monroe Ellis was quoted as saying by the Jamaica Observer. The contractor handling JDIP, China Harbour Engineering Company, is threatening not to go ahead with a number of major investments because of the criticism, Henry said. JDIP is regarded as the largest, most comprehensive infrastructure program to be implemented in Jamaica, including road repairs and maintenance, river channeling, and building and repairing bridges. The China Ex-Im Bank is providing US$340mn of the total cost.