Letter of the Day | Don’t let Jamaicans build new parliament building

THE EDITOR, Sir:

The government has just released the architectural plans for the new parliament building, which is to be erected at Heroes Circle. The design plans were done by local architects, and some time ago there were cries from local interests that Jamaican developers should also construct the building.

I, however, strongly suggest that the Government do no such thing. In fact, it would be an unpatriotic move to have Jamaicans build it. It is to our shame that we can't trust one another, but we can only 'tek sleep and mark death'.

Jamaican developers are notorious for cost overrun, delays, and poor, shoddy workmanship. Many are lacking in integrity and are greedy. A friend of mine who migrated to the US years ago has been sending his hard-earned money to a developer to construct his retirement home and has been cheated blind by the so-called professional construction company.

I can also speak personally about how I have purchased a newly constructed home, and after scraping together what seemed like my entire life savings to acquire the house, I now have to be scraping again for money to remedy all manner of issues with the place, including problems with the newly constructed sewerage. Not even the four corners of the house seem secure as moisture seeps through the walls during heavy rain. I won't even speak of the fixtures in the house as most have had to be replaced and one light switch was installed upside down.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Another example of the shoddy workmanship by local contractors is shown in how our roads are constructed. Our roads never seem to be able to last a year and are, for all intents and purposes, dry-weather roads as they shell out as soon as it rains and are once again riddled with potholes. Where can we go to get redress from these scoundrels? They seem to care not that they are wasting the country's very scarce resources that could be used to educate our children, pay teachers, police and nurses or equip our hospitals, fire stations and schools. For that, I say that they are an unpatriotic lot.

I think our local contractors should assist a foreign developer with constructing the new parliament building but they should not be in charge. I dare say that their loyalty is for their own pockets and, sad to say, they have none for their own country, in which, I presume, they and their family reside.

J. Bartley