Phyllis Thomas, Enterprise Editor
James Robertson, Member of Parliament for Western St. Thomas, and Scarlette Gillings, managing director of Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), view a blueprint at the contract signing for the repair of five schools damaged by Hurricane Ivan. The signing took place at JSIF offices in New Kingston on March 5. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
FOR THE masterminds of the Social and Economic Support Programme (SESP), the aim was to "mitigate the effects of major changes in economic strategy on the most vulnerable in the society". For James Robertson, Member of Parliament for Western St. Thomas, the SESP is nothing but "a joke".
Forget any claim of it cushioning the most vulnerable in the society. It is "chicken feed" and "a set-up" for MPs like himself, fuelling the misconception that politicians are handed huge sums of money to assist constituents.
"The SESP sets up people to dislike you," Mr. Robertson steamed from behind his desk at offices located in the busy district accommodating the Kingston Wharves. "And it leads them to believe that you are getting something because when people hear that you are getting $2 million they believe you get it. (But) you never get it. You just dispose of it as fairly as possible."
Mr. Robertson laid the foundation for the spirited defence of his spending that was to come in the interview. "What we are getting doesn't allow for projects. Let's get that straight ... these are the files, and you are welcome to look at them. You want transparency? You have got it!"
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
Inspection of those files reveal that the bulk of this MP's allocation is disbursed much the same way as many of his other colleagues: welfare and rehabilitation. There is back-to-school assistance, the purchase of school books, burying the dead ... All roads lead to the SESP. However, there are other state-funded programmes through which these same benefits may be accessed.
Questioned about the absence of substantial physical projects, he said, "I consider back-to-school as a project. I consider Christmas work as a project to try to bring a little cheer to children. In the true sense of a project, for example, to develop a footbridge - no. There is no funding to do that."
But a more combative defence of his spending was to come. "If you uncover any weaknesses in how SESP goes you fix those weaknesses, but don't tell me that SESP is to carry out activities like helping schools, clubs community organisations with sporting gear and equipment, rallies and competition. Don't tell me to assist with uniforms, school fees, books, training scholarships and summer school. Don't tell me it's for fire (victims') funerals, floods, medicine, food and the indigent. Don't tell me it's to cover infrastructural work, construction, refurbishing of walls, bridges and community centres, schools, post offices ... Don't tell me you give me money when you give me chicken feed."
GOVERNMENT FALLS SHORT
It is the slash in allocation that is making it difficult for MPs to carry out other meaningful projects, he said. Mr. Robertson said that Government fell way short of the $2,880,235.00 that it promised to give to MPs. As a result, MPs were landed in serious trouble and he had to use his personal funds to pay some of the bills and undertake some of the projects. He said that after Hurricane Ivan, a decision was made in his constituency that the roads had to be reopened. They hired tractors and persons to do the work with the intention of making payments from the SESP funds. "But there was no SESP."
He said he was left with the bills unpaid and he had to take the matter to the National Works Agency, getting community leaders - elderly persons, including pastors to verify that the road had in fact been reopened.
Mr. Robertson said he had been asked from time to sponsor police youth clubs but could not. He said where there are requests for assistance to bury the dead, he has not given more than $10,000 or less.
"A bare-bone funeral is $70,000 and when you give $10,000 to a family who has nothing, it still leaves them in a deep hole."
Mr. Robertson was asked about his means test to establish that the requests were in fact legitimate before signing off on funding for individuals. He said he relied on his councillors and zone supervisors, all of whom live in their communities and are close to the people. Furthermore, he said, "I spend enough time there to know the people. I know the youth who is unemployed ... the means test is based on knowledge."
He advised that his SESP spending trail could be tracked through the Social Development Commision (SDC), the St. Thomas Parish Council and sports authority.
He is angry about SESP's inability to do what it was set up to do but seemed to embrace its concept.
"If you uncover any weaknesses in SESP contracts, fix those weaknesses but don't downgrade the programme to the point where you destroy the true ability of the programme to assist, which is what has happened."
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