Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda has brushed aside allegations made by Opposition Spokesman Ian Hayles that he has politicised the expansion of water projects across Jamaica, calling the notion “abject nonsense”.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday, Samuda rejected suggestions that water infrastructure investments were being disproportionately directed to constituencies represented by Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Members of Parliament (MP).

“I would like to spend a moment just to deal with three matters raised in the Parliament yesterday by the Opposition spokesperson on water. The first one I noted covered in the media this morning was his claim that politics is being used for the distribution of water projects. That is abject nonsense, and that is easily provable,” said the minister.