FINANCE AND the Public Service Minister Audley Shaw on Tuesday rushed to the defence of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), after Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry accused the agency of suffering from systemic inefficiency.

Shaw intervened after members of parliament raised questions about a $375.9-million reduction in the budget for JSIF projects.

The parliamentarians were examining the first supplementary estimates of expenditure in Gordon House.

Significant sums were slashed from many projects, including those relating to JSIF.

Shaw said financing for the projects was cut primarily because of the slow pace of implementation, due to various challenges in the procurement process, as well as problems in "sensitive areas".

Hiding behind inefficiencies

But Henry had a different view on the non-implementation of some projects by the JSIF.

"... A lot of reasons being given are hiding behind inefficiencies ... and the expenditure can be improved and blaming the inner-city communities continuously and hiding behind those things are not fair to the inner-city communities or this programme," he said.

However, Shaw dismissed his colleague's criticism of the management of the JSIF.

The finance minister urged MPs to "take a critical look at how we can abide by the transparent procurement system laid down by the contractor general, while understanding the peculiarities of the communities that we represent".

Despite Shaw's comments, Opposition MP Dr Peter Phillips cautioned that the withdrawal of resources from at-risk communities, at a time when inflationary pressure was having a devastating impact on the marginalised, could exacerbate the problem of crime.

Improvement and construction

Concerns were also raised about a $310-million reduction in the $950 million allocated in the Budget to carry out improvement and construction work on police stations and other buildings.

Shaw said he planned to hold talks with officials from the National Contracts Commission and the Office of the Contractor General to explore measures to expedite the procurement process, without compromising its integrity.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com