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That's what we asked works Minister Boots Martinez today:..

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"It's not any cosmetics in terms of creating jobs, as a matter of fact even from the second component of the Southside project - the component that they will be working is where they are capable of doing, it's not a situation where the people are giving away their money, it's not a social network. We will take out the portion for the people that have the capability from what the project can do so its partnering with the private sector and the citizens. I other words you can't ask the people from the rejuvenation to go and drive piles, they don't have the expertise, they don't have the capacity for that. You can ask them to build the cement slab for the drainage."

Jules Vasquez
"So then how many people from the rejuvenation project will be carry over into this next project?"

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"All from rejuvenation and CYDP. Remember you have the housing component also." Martinez also discussed the scope of works for the Project. IT includes that long promised hot mix paving of Central American Boulevard. Now hot mix is what they used on Albert and Regent Streets so we know that's the good stuff - but is it for real this time. Martinez said, "no doubt!".

Jules Vasquez
"You said that you will hot mix from the BelCan roundabout right up to Port I believe. You been saying that, two Christmas I am hearing that - that you will hot mix Albert Street. What is to ensure that it will happen this time?"

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"Well, the signing of the agreement. First and foremost government had to put up what they will do, put up a proposal, proper drawings, proper plans, that is what you sign on to, in others words the scope of work that is in the book - that is the gospel."

Jules Vasquez
"So it will happen for real now."

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"Man that is the gospel, so if you see Mayor, I gave the Mayor a copy of the document. All the streets, the drainage, the canals, everything, that is the gospel. in others words you don't just go and sign for money because those people are lending money, you have to prepare a plan and send it up to OPEC. The board met and approve it and everything. This is the final product after approval."

The Southside project also has a housing component - and it needs to because the two million dollars allocated for post hurricane construction is finished. We asked Martinez, two million finished? On what? Here's what he had to say and show.

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"We have 173 projects onboard, they tell you what is completed and majority of the ones that are not completed are 80% almost done and what we have is a system, we have a warehouse, we have housing inspectors that go and check every single project. My understanding that you ran a story last week in regards to a contractor who [Jules Vasquez - Mr. Lino] but you have the check and balance."

Jules Vasquez
"He was accused of taking a certain amount of supplies and when they went to check the house only a portion of that about half or less than half was used. Now I don't want to be accusing anybody, I know it's not you but at least two contractors I know personally who say that they can't show us the paper but they cannot work for the Ministry of Works unless the supervisor get a percentage and I get a percentage."

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"No, no, don't bring don't kind of hearsay here at all!"

Jules Vasquez
"But there is documentary proof. They won't show you because they will lose their turn on."

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"How you will bring those hear say things here? Bring the facts and we will with what is the facts. Don't come with those supervisory things. The process is simple; you get a contract from the ministry, you get a bill of quantities where you go to the compound to pick up the material, you must account or the material so I don't know about that, no supervisor can't save you - if when they check and see that material is short so that is not here nor there. There is a system in place and you must follow the system."

Jules Vasquez
"The compound where all these materials are stock-piled, is that your compound? Is that housing for the poor? Who owns that compound and is it legitimate to store the supplies bought by the government on that compound?"

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"Maybe you need to go and check. It is legitimate to store the supplies."

Jules Vasquez
"Who owns it?"

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"Port Loyola housing for the Poor. I lend that to the government for FREE."

Jules Vasquez
"You don't charge any rent?"

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"Just like the building where the office sits, that belongs to me and that too is FREE."

Jules Vasquez
"Well you must be a saint because I don't know anybody who does anything for the government for free."

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"Man at the end of the day the people are benefitting. What do you mean? I am a politician."

Jules Vasquez
"Now all these stuff that has been stockpiled at mile 3, were those put out to bid, I know it was a hurricane response thing but I am saying are they representative of the best prices available on the market or is it just that you are dealing with one provider and perhaps didn't ask all the providers what's the best price?"

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"We deal with many providers for the best price."

Jules Vasquez
"So it's solely from one provider?"

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"No it's from many providers. "

Jules Vasquez
"Are you prepared for this hurricane relief funds, this 2 million to undergo an audit, some sort of review? I know it's difficult and people have needs and you just have to run the money."

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"What do you mean undergo an audit?"

Jules Vasquez
"In terms of undergo some sort critical review. Two million seems a lot to spend if you look on the ground it's like anybody have cement house."

Hon. Boots Martinez, Minister of Works
"Man, at the end of the day you can go look on the ground yourself sir. I have a copy of the list. You as a journalist can get a copy of the list, we are open and transparent. every single home; the costing of it; every single name, the home owner and everything so maybe when you left here, I will give a copy of the list and you may want go and do the ground work yourself."

Tomorrow - we'll have the explanation from the Ministry of Works manager of that project on how the project was managed…