The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is rejecting claims made by the Opposition about it’s the farm road rehabilitation programme.

Among other things Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips says the party has evidence that $1.6 b was supposedly spent on bushing in St. Thomas.

Rada says the total value of the road repair programme for the past four years was just over one point   seven billion dollars for work done nationally, and not in any one parish or constituency.

A RADA statement this afternoon says the Auditor General’s October 2019 report confirms this.

It adds that the suggestion by the opposition, therefore, that $1.6 b was spent in St. Thomas alone is absurd.

Rada says it is also important for the public to be aware that no contract was issued under this programme for bushing solely but, rather, contracts include paving, patching and grading.

The opposition also raised questions about the rates used by RADA.

Rada states that its rates are consistent with the National Works Agency recommended rates adding that and no concern regarding rates was raised in the recent Auditor General’s report.

Rada notes that the issues raised by the opposition are not raised in the recent auditor general’s report nor the internal audit reports.

As such, the authority is encouraging the opposition to share any and all information with the authority, parent ministry and the investigative authorities.