ENGINEER Joseph Gilbert, who is a candidate for the National Democratic Congress says his party will restore the public works department in the Ministry of Works if it gets into office.

The current government abolished the department and has since given private contractors work previously done by the department in the name of greater efficiency.

But Gilbert, who was once a senior engineer in the Ministry of Works, said the new policy has been used to encourage corruption and kick-backs.

He also said it has been abused so that a few benefit at the expense of the hundreds of workers who were sent home from public works.

“People who were employed on a continuous basis year in year out were sent home and (the NNP) say they implementing a system of contracts. But contracts to who? To the same people every time … their families, and their close friends,” he said.

“We are saying when we get into office we shall restore the public works department,” Gilbert, who is contesting the St Patrick’s West seat for NDC, said.

He said rather that encourage efficiency the new system has encouraged wastage through corruption and mismanagement.

“The NNP has taken out cash from your hands and put in their pockets most of that money they pay out in the contracts returns to them in some form or the other. We are saying that form of kickback would not be entertained by an NDC government,” Joseph declared. “One way to do that is to bring back public works and ensure it runs efficiently. That is our commitment to you and the people of Grenada.”

Gilbert said when the NNP came into power in 1995 there were 13 million dollars worth of equipment and spare parts in the department.

He said most of the equipment was left to rot while trucks were sold very cheaply to their cronies.

“That is the kind of mismanagement we have had to put up with,” he quipped.

Gilbert said there can be a new more efficient public works department that will give the government more value for money, while at the same time giving more people employment rather than a few.

He was speaking at a public meeting on Sunday at the Sauteurs Courtyard held jointly with the constituency of St Patrick’s East which is being contested by NDC leader Tillman Thomas.