Former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government minister Donville Inniss has slammed comments made by Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn regarding the cancellation of the ABC Highway flyover contract in 2008.
During last week’s Budgetary Proposals And Financial Statement he delivered in the House of Assembly, Straughn suggested that the traffic challenges currently facing Barbadians might have been avoided had the then-DLP administration, led by late Prime Minister David Thompson, proceeded with the construction of the flyovers.
Inniss labelled this assertion as “erroneous”. In a statement released yesterday, he argued that the minister failed to consult the historical record, specifically the Hansard reports from the 2008 parliamentary debate.
“Had he taken time out to read [them] he would have perhaps had a different opinion on it,” Inniss said.
The former St James South Member of Parliament recalled that the project was a contentious issue leading up to the 2008 General Election. He noted that the contract had ballooned from an initial cost of US$60 million to US$180 million before construction had even commenced.
Concerns raised
Inniss further pointed to concerns raised at the time by the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE) regarding technical specifications, as well as general public scepticism on the usefulness of flyovers for the island’s traffic challenges.
“It wasn’t that the Democratic Labour Party lacked vision,” he said. “It’s that the harsh reality about it at the point in time, we felt it was not the right thing for Barbadians.”
He suggested that Straughn consult with current Cabinet colleagues who served
in the previous administration for clarity on the decision.
Enlightened him
“And if there’s any doubt, Minister Straughn should have a conversation with two of his newfound Cabinet colleagues, one who served as a Minister in Transport and Works . . . and one who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs back then. They would have enlightened him as to the reason why the Democratic Labour Party took that decision as it took back then.”
He also took issue with what he described as a contradictory approach by the current Government. He questioned how the minister could chastise the former administration for cancelling the project while simultaneously planning to engage the same contractors for flyovers and hosting public hearings on traffic solutions.
“You basically chastise the former Government . . . say you’re going to hire these same people to build the flyovers to solve the traffic woes, and then you come and ask Barbadians to give an opinion,” Inniss said. “This just does not make sense.”
He called on the minister to exercise caution and respect public consultation protocols.
“I would urge Minister Straughn, temper your enthusiasm, control your ego and realise that Barbadians have a right to express their views and to be consulted before you rush ahead and demand a million-dollar contract before even going out to the public tender,” Inniss said. (MB)
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