The Old Harbour Bypass was affected by extortion attempts. EXTORTION IN the building industry has become a central issue once again. It is being highlighted alongside other pressing issues such as the high cost of cement, and lack of proper site management and training for craftsmen and women.
These are matters brought to the country's attention by Kingsley Thomas, chairman of the National Housing Trust and National Road Operating and Construction Company which has experienced the effects of extortion on the country's largest ever construction project, Highway 2000.
At least one person has been killed on that project because the contractors, Bouygues, refused to meet demands by extortionists. Mr. Thomas also had the experience where Malaysian contractors declined his invitation to build affordable housing for Jamaicans due to the crime threat.
Construction-site violence and extortion are far from being new issues, but the reception to the concerns two years ago was simply to dismiss their reality. They were raised in the House of Representatives in a presentation before the Economy and Production Committee in April 2001 by the then Joint Consultative Committee for the Building Industry in Jamaica.
At this presentation the Committee refused to hear of it as they said it was a thing of the past.
At that time, extortion was estimated to increase construction costs by 25 per cent. Today it is estimated at 40 per cent and is built into projects under the heading of security.
(The above is an excerpt from a column by Cedric Richards which appeared in June).
