Mr. Clifton Yap

Clifton Yap
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Clifton Yap

IN the midst of the frenzy over Jamaica's economic problems, the government, in their customary response to calming public concerns and criticisms, have had a flurry of meetings with the usual committees and groups, and issued the usual promises and pronouncements about plans to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.

Only two months ago, we had the government's National Development Council deliberating and announcing that the focus of their solution was to get the various ministries and agencies to accelerate the implementation of the various development projects in their portfolio.
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Clifton Yap is immediate past president of the Jamaica Institute of Architects and former chairman of the Construction Industry Council.

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President : Clifton Yap

Mr. Clifton Yap, Past President, Jamaican Institute of Architects, Former Chairman, Construction Industry Council, Vice Chairman, Planning for the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Development Committee

,What is Corruption?There are varied related definitions to be found, but in the context of the problems in Jamaica, I believe that one of the most appropriate definitions is ,the abuse of power to secure a benefit for oneself or another,.We all can recognize that this is a problem afflicting many countries, particularly at the level of governance.,Mr. Yap said that in Jamaica it would be fair to say that corruption is being taken to a different level, as it pervades every aspect of life.
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Mr. Yap noted that with such a history in the carrying out of construction projects by governments, ,I am deeply concerned by some trends that have been occurring over the past few years.,Every year for the past four years, he said, in the face of an overwhelming debt burden, a weak economy, with citizens at their taxable limit, and ministries unable to even fund the most basic of essential services adequately, the government has announced more and more mega sized construction projects, as their solution to the country,s worsening problems! ,For crying out loud, isn,t it waste and corruption resulting from these activities that got us in this situation in the first palce?,He commented that what is even more worrying is that every time projects are announced, there is unquestioning applause and support from the media, the influential private sector business interests, and even the Opposition JLP (Jamaica Labour Party), who should be raising concerns on behalf of the people of Jamaica.So the abuses of power continue, and a few individuals and companies will continue to ,drink milk, at the expense of the majority of our citizens.

While the government will argue that their ministries and agencies are carrying out construction developments to generate investments, and create jobs and economic growth.Mr. Yap explained that the practices and processes that the government has been using to carry out developments in Jamaica, were designed to facilitate and conceal corruption.He listed some of these practices as:, The practice of Ministries and Agencies making unilateral decisions in secrecy without any public information or consultation/

By Clifton Yap

Following is a lightly edited version of Clinton Yap's presentation to the Montego Bay Rotary Club on November 15, 2006.">
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Following is a lightly edited version of Clinton Yap's presentation to the Montego Bay Rotary Club on November 15, 2006.
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Clinton Yap is a past president of the Jamaican Institute of Architects and former chairman of the Construction Industry Council.

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Allow me the opportunity to respond to a letter written by immediate past president of the Jamaican Institute of Architects, Mr Clifton Yap, in the Daily Observer in April.

In response to Mr Yap's questions about the NHT's decision to finance the drafting of developmental plans for major urban areas, I wish to point out that ever since its establishment, the NHT has been developing its housing schemes around existing social facilities.In almost every instance, some social and other critical facilities have become over-used and inadequate.The situation has not been helped by the haphazard development of many other structures around our urban centres.As a result, many NHT beneficiaries who live in communities developed by the Trust, do not have access to adequate and proper social amenities.

Clifton Yap

It is against this background that the NHT has decided to provide financial assistance to planning authorities throughout the country to assist in the drafting of developmental plans for the major urban centres in Jamaica.The NHT, contrary to Mr Yap's assertion, will not in any way be involved in the actual drafting of plans or the development of urban areas.This will be the responsibility of the local urban planners with which the Trust has been in consultation.
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Mr Yap should be aware that this is how such developments have taken place in both developed and developing economies with measurable success.All of this will be in an effort to create the total community for our contributors.

Contrary to claims made by Mr Yap, let me state that the NHT represented by board chairman, Kingsley Thomas, has been in consultation with a wide cross-section of interest groups long before the launch of the international design competition.From as far back as February 2000, consultations have been taking place and they are set to continue for the duration of the project.

From a developmental point of view, the proposed New Town in Clarendon is ideally located.All of Jamaica's major physical plans, from as far back as 1965, identify the area from Old Harbour to May Pen, including Inverness, as the growth area for population settlements in Jamaica.Through the development of New Town, the NHT intends to integrate the diverse housing development projects that have been mushrooming in the area.

At a panel discussion on the proposed new town, hosted by the Jamaican Institute of Planners (JIP) on September 26, 2001, Mr Thomas was one of the presenters, along with noted planner Arlene Dixon, environmentalist Peter Espeut, and Clifton Yap, president of the Jamaican Institute of Architects (JIA).
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Clifton YapThe Jamaican Institute of Architects