( L - R ) GRANGE: Each project is worthy. SIMPSON-MILLER: Voices concerns about coincidence. GOLDING: Demands explanation.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has agreed with the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) that questions need to be asked about the decision to stage three national Labour Day projects in constituencies where government members of Parliament (MP) could face by-elections.

"It doesn't look good and if there was any political motivation in the selection, then it ought not to have been there," Golding declared yesterday.

"If I were in the Opposi-tion's position, I would come to the same conclusions and I would make the same noise," Golding added.

Not preferential

The prime minister said he had not had a chance to speak with Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia 'Babsy' Grange on the issue, but he would be demanding an explanation.

Golding also said constituencies held by the Opposition MPs were not being left.

"The Opposition has not acknow-ledged that the Government gave permission for the expenditure of $250,000 for each member of parliament, including the 28 Opposition MPs, for Labour Day activities, so it is not that they have been deprived of the capacity to mount Labour Day projects," Golding said.

Selections

Golding's comments came hours after Grange mounted a strong defence of the selection in the wake of Opposition concerns that the projects were selected with one eye on the possible by-elections which could face Shahine Robinson in North East St Ann, Gregory Mair in North East St Catherine, and Michael Stern in North West Clarendon.

All three are now before the courtsfacing allegations that they are not qualified to sit in Parliament because they held dual citizenship at the time of the 2007 general elections.

The PNP's case has been buttressed by the Government's decision to stage last year's national Labour Day project in West Portland, where government MP Daryl Vaz recently faced a by-election.

But Grange says the national Labour Day projects were selected on the basis that the three government MPs were the ones who responded to her request for projects to be nominated.

She said a fourth project has since been added to the list based on a submission from the PNP's Derrick Kellier, who is the member of parliament for South St James.

Grange further noted that the maximum that would be granted to each of the four projects is $500,000, while each parish council has been allocated $100,000.

"Each of the four projects is worthy of national attention and encourages the aim of Labour Day, which is social intervention, volunteerism and the coming together of Jamaicans," Grange said.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com

National LabourDay projects

St Ann's Bay Hospital in St Ann

Riversdale sports court in St Catherine

Ginger resuscitation project in Clarendon

Blue Hole nature park in St James.