THE CONSTRUCTION of the new stadium complex in Florence Hall, Trelawny, is a major project that has to be completed within certain deadlines to meet the requirements contingent on Jamaica's hosting some of the Cricket World Cup 2007 matches.
So it is understandable that the major contractors, COMPLANT, from China would be getting anxious over any perceived tardiness in completing the construction on time. The Jamaican authorities should be equally concerned since not only would the country's reputation be on the line but there would be implications of additional costs from a multimillion dollar project which they are not likely to recover.
However, the manner in which the reported dissatisfaction at the pace of the Jamaican workers has been handled by
COMPLANT is somewhat puzzling. Delroy Christie, chief executive officer of local sub-contractors CFC Construction is quoted as saying that he was as surprised as the Jamaican workers at Tuesday's take-over of the project by the Chinese. It is hard to imagine that COMPLANT would have moved in without indicating its concerns.
So Tuesday's confrontation was as much about a clash of cultures, work attitude and management. We hold no brief for indolence on the part of the Jamaicans if that is what has transpired. If the workers are not keeping pace with the terms of the contractors' obligations, Mr. Christie and his officials must apply the necessary pressure to get things moving. Jamaica's workforce at all levels needs to get a better grasp of demands of a competitive global economy and recognise that we cannot continue with a laissez faire 'business as usual' attitude.
However clear lines of communication are needed. Inasmuch as the Chinese want to get the project moving, they too need to demonstrate some respect for the sub contractors and the Jamaicans on site. As was clearly demonstrated on Tuesday, at the best of times, many Jamaicans are driven by irrational rather than reflective responses to perceived crises.
Tuesday's incident could easily have erupted into a violent confrontation that would set back not only the stadium project but Jamaica's attempts to move the economy forward. We urge all parties to move swiftly to get the project moving and completed on time, while giving due respect for each other.
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