China Jamaica
CJ Politics

China, Jamaica Talk Infrastructure Project

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - January 7, 2012

Above: Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Zheng Qingdian and Jamaican PM Portia Simpson Miller

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller met today with Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Zheng Qingdian to discuss her government’s desire to make changes to the structure and implementation of the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme, which is funded by China.

Simpson Miller was joined at the meeting by Works Minister Dr Omar Davies, Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips and Environment Minister Robert Pickersgill.

There was a “frank exchange of views” at the meeting, and Zheng committed to act immediately to present Jamaica’s desires to the relevant authorities during his forthcoming visit to Beijing, the Prime Minister’s office said.

The ruling People’s National Party had signaled that it would immediately initiate contact with the Chinese government about the project if it were to win the election, which it did on Dec. 29.

The JDIP is funded in the amount of an available $400 million provided by the the Export Import Bank (EXIM) of China, aimed at a large-scale works project to improve Jamaica’s roads, traffic systems and bridges.

It commenced in 2010, with plans for a five-year commitment.

A series of criticisms about the implementation of the program led to the resignation in November of former Works Minister Mike Henry, who as Minister had stewarded the programme.

The then-opposition PNP, in a statement at the time, called the resignation a “belated response to the scandalous conduct of the entire government in relation to the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme.”

Popular Posts w punta cana

A New All-Inclusive W Hotel Is Opening This Year in Punta Cana 

The first-ever all-inclusive W Hotel in the Caribbean is opening this year in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The hotel, part of a broad expansion for parent company Marriott International, is on the list of expected 2024 […]


Why Grenada Is a New Caribbean Luxury Hotspot

beach house silversands

From its world-renowned chocolate to its pristine beaches to a region-leading focus on sustainability, Grenada is as fascinating and unique as destination as you’ll find in the Caribbean.  But in the last few years, the lush Eastern Caribberan island has […]


5 Adults-Only Resorts to Visit Right Now in the Caribbean 

galley bay

Sometimes you just want that extra degree of serenity, of privacy, of seclusion. There is a reason, after all, that adults-only resorts are booming in popularity, particularly in the Caribbean: travelers want to know that when they arrive, they know […]


Related Posts doctors cave beach with waves

Jamaica Adding New Automated Passport Kiosks

In a a bid to expedite processing at two of the Caribbean’s busiest airports, Jamaica is adding new automated passport control kiosks in Kingston and Montego Bay.  The new kiosks aim to “streamline passenger flow,” according to a statement from […]


The Cool List: the Coolest Hotels in the Caribbean for 2024

the cool list 2024

They’re different. They’re fun, they’re colorful, they’re unique. They’re themselves. The Caribbean has no shortage of cool hotels and in this, Caribbean Journal’s 12th annual Cool List, we highlight the places that hit you in a different way, that do […]


The 25 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean, from Adults-Only to Boutique

hammock cove in antigua

What is an all-inclusive resort? In recent years, the answer to that question has changed dramatically. Today, all-inclusive means a resort that is at the cutting edge of travel trends, one that is catering to the demands of a massive […]


SUBSCRIBE!

Sign up for Caribbean Journal's free newsletter for a daily dose of beaches, hotels, rum and the best Caribbean travel information on the net.


No. Thank You