Kingston, Jamaica: Minister with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, MP, has concluded a strategic working visit to Peru, aimed at examining their internationally recognized reconstruction model and identifying lessons to support Jamaica’s own recovery and long-term infrastructure development. The visit comes at a critical time as Jamaica continues its recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa, with a growing focus on strengthening resilience and delivering climate-smart infrastructure.

The visit was facilitated by the UK Government, which played a key role in enabling UK infrastructure expertise to enhance the speed, transparency and effectiveness of major infrastructure projects in Peru.

Peru’s reconstruction programme was initiated in response to the devastating 2017 El Niño Costero disaster, which impacted more than 1.5 million people and caused widespread damage to critical infrastructure. In the years that followed, Peru established a dedicated reconstruction authority, later transitioning to the National Infrastructure Authority (ANIN), now central to delivering large-scale infrastructure projects across the country.

Minister Morgan said the visit provided valuable insights as Jamaica continues to refine its approach to reconstruction.
“Peru’s experience makes it clear that reconstruction cannot be approached as a series of disconnected projects. It must be treated as a national programme, supported by strong institutions, clear governance, modern procurement systems, and a firm commitment to resilience,” he said.

A Government-to-Government partnership with the United Kingdom has been instrumental in Peru’s success. Through this collaboration, UK expertise supported the accelerated delivery of key infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, health centres, flood protection systems, and early warning mechanisms, while also strengthening procurement systems, enhancing transparency, and building long-term institutional capacity.UK experts worked alongside Peruvian counterparts to deliver complex projects at pace, while maintaining a strong focus on climate resilience, quality standards, and competitive procurement processes.

British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Alicia Herbert, noted:
“I’m delighted that the UK facilitated this visit. The UK’s partnership with Peru demonstrates how high-quality, climate-resilient infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and at scale when supported by strong governance and transparent systems. We are proud of the role the UK has played in Peru’s reconstruction and remain committed to supporting Jamaica as it transitions from recovery to resilient rebuilding following Hurricane Melissa.”

During the visit, the UK enabled a series of technical briefings, workshops, and site visits for the Jamaican delegation, providing first-hand insight into Peru’s reconstruction journey and its relevance to Jamaica’s context. The programme included visits to major infrastructure projects in Lima, including a school development and the Huaycoloro gully works, alongside engagements with technical partners on governance, procurement, project controls, stakeholder engagement, and long-term planning.

Data shared during the visit highlighted the scale and impact of Peru’s reconstruction efforts. Across the programme, 153 projects have been undertaken, with 84 facilities already completed and in use, and 28 currently underway. These include 71 schools, five healthcare centres, four hospitals, flood protection systems, and early warning infrastructure- benefiting approximately 1.4 million people.

Notably, projects delivered through the UK-supported delivery model were completed significantly faster than comparable projects elsewhere in Peru, while maintaining higher standards. Schools were delivered in an average of 2.5 years compared to five years, while healthcare facilities were completed in 2.9 years compared to 7.3 years.

Minister Morgan emphasized that the visit reinforced the importance of building long-term institutional capacity alongside physical infrastructure.
“What stood out is that Peru did not simply rebuild what was lost. It focused on building back better, faster, and in a way that strengthened its institutions. The transition to ANIN as a permanent delivery body is a powerful example of how reconstruction can leave a lasting legacy of improved state capacity,” he said.

He added that key lessons for Jamaica include strengthening programme management, prioritising projects early, integrating climate-resilient design, improving coordination across agencies, engaging communities, and ensuring that operations and maintenance are embedded from the outset.

“This visit was about understanding, from real-world experience, what enables delivery and what creates delays. Jamaica must rebuild in a way that is smarter, stronger, and more resilient. The insights gained through this engagement will play an important role in shaping that path forward,” Minister Morgan said.

This is a joint press release between the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development and the British High Commission.

A transformative infrastructure project at 85 and 85½ Red Hills Road, significantly improving living conditions and supporting sustainable community development, is nearing completion.

Minister with responsibility for Land Titling and Settlements in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (MEGID), Hon. Robert Montague, alongside Member of Parliament for St. Andrew North Central, Hon. Delano Seiveright, toured the site yesterday (March 31, 2026), and met with the residents.

“It is a project that has been long in gestation. but based on where we are now, by the end of April we should see a completion”, Minister Montague said. The project is aimed at formalizing and upgrading one of St. Andrew North Central’s long-standing informal settlements.

The J$62.8 million project, managed by the Projects and Technical Services Branch of the Ministry, and executed by Brighton Engineers Limited, includes:

• Demolition of encroaching structures and removal of zinc fences
• Construction of perimeter boundary walls
• Asphalt roadways and foot pathways
• Stormwater drainage system
• Installation and upgrading of fire hydrants
• Regularization of land tenure for residents

Minister Montague noted that the residents expressed appreciation for the ongoing works, adding that they have committed to maintaining their surroundings, while MEGID works to resolve the final safety and utility concerns.

“They are very aware of their responsibilities in terms of keeping the drains clean. They have also indicated that they will be beautifying their area. We have also seen where the citizens have pointed out that there is an issue with the electrical wires and cable wires running very low in the expanded driveway and walkway. We are already in touch with the utility companies to have these removed. They are a safety hazard and will prevent larger trucks like the garbage trucks, fire trucks and ambulances from coming into the lane”, the Minister stated.

The project traces its roots to 1988, when 85 Red Hills Road was declared a special improvement area under the Local Improvements (Communities Amenities) Act (LICA).

In 2001, the adjoining 85 ½ Red Hills Road was acquired by the Ministry of Housing for development. The current project is focused on enhancing infrastructure, improving living standards, and formalizing the settlement to ensure sustainable development.

Upon completion, the Ministry will formally hand over the upgraded community to the residents and the Member of Parliament.

The Government of Jamaica today marked a major milestone in the transformation of St. Thomas with the signing of leases by seven (7) government entities, to occupy space in the Morant Bay Urban Centre.

Among the entities signing leases today (March 5, 2026) were:

• Child Protection & Family Services Agency (CPFSA)
• The Department of Correctional Services (DCS)
• The Jamaica Information Service (JIS)
• The  Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs- Justice Reform Centre
• The Passport, Immigration & Citizenship Agency (PICA)
• The St. Thomas Municipal Corporation and
• Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ).

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the offices of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development on Dominica Drive, Minister with responsibility for Land and Titling, Hon. Robert Montague, described the signing of the leases as a strong signal of confidence in the development of St. Thomas as an investment destination.

“It sends a signal to the private sector that the public sector is fully on board, and will be populating the centre and therefore they will now have a market.  It makes no sense that the private sector comes in with restaurants and all that, and there are no customers. So the government having spent J$6 billion, has a responsibility to populate the centre”.

Minister Montague noted that the Morant Bay Urban Centre is the first in a series of planned urban centres across the island, including the building out of the Boundbrook Centre in Portland, as well as urban centres under consideration for St. Mary, Negril and St. Elizabeth.

He also reflected on the symbolism of the lease signing ceremony, linking it to the legacy of National Hero, the Rt. Excellent Paul Bogle, who fought for the upliftment of the people of St. Thomas.

“Today’s signing represents the realisation of Paul Bogle’s dream, bringing development to the people… we are reducing rural-urban drift by creating jobs, housing opportunities and investment in St. Thomas”, he stated.

The Minister thanked the project’s major partners, the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ), China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and National Commercial Bank (NCB) for their role in the development of the urban centre.

For her part, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Mrs. Arlene Williams, noted that the centre represents a significant step in revitalising a parish once considered overlooked.

“We are bringing economic activities to a parish once thought to be forgotten.  The Morant Bay Urban Centre provides ergonomically designed office spaces within an aesthetically pleasing environment”, she said.

The Morant Bay Urban Centre signals the Government’s commitment to position St. Thomas as a hub for public services, business and education.

Cabinet has approved the policy framework for the establishment of the One Road Authority (ORA) as an executive agency under the Works portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (MEGID).

According to Minister with responsibility for Works in MEGID, Hon. Robert Morgan, Cabinet approval for the ORA policy framework was granted last week. Minister Morgan, who was speaking at a Post-Cabinet Briefing on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, explained that the establishment of ORA represents a major governance reform aimed at improving road outcomes across the island through consistent, clear, and accountable standards.

The Minister outlined that one of the primary reasons for the creation of the One Road Authority is the longstanding fragmentation among entities responsible for managing Jamaica’s road network, which has resulted in uneven road quality due to varying standards and quality assurance processes over the years.

He added that the core mandate of ORA is to regulate standards and performance for all roads, while directly implementing works on national main roads.

“In practical terms, ORA will achieve four objectives that we believe the country needs, firstly, it will enforce a single standard for road works across the island ensuring quality is consistent and roads are durable across the country,” he said.

The Minister also noted that ORA will strengthen quality assurance and compliance monitoring to ensure contractors and executing entities are held accountable for meeting required road standards. The Authority will further introduce stronger performance reporting to improve public transparency in delivery standards. For national main roads, ORA will bring greater discipline to planning, procurement, contract management, and maintenance programming.

Minister Morgan emphasized that these measures will help Jamaica move away from the cycle of repeated emergency road patching each year and toward a structured, long-term national programme for road maintenance and rehabilitation.

The Government of Jamaica has commenced road patching works in Kingston under the GO Road Rehabilitation Programme, targeting priority corridors that require immediate repair to improve road safety and driving conditions.
Work has begun in the following areas: Waterloo Road, East Kings House Road, Mandela Highway and several other roads in Kingston and St Andrew.
These initial activities form part of a wider, phased effort to address deteriorated roadway sections, with a focus on areas affected by scouring, potholes, and general surface failure.
“The GO Programme will expand beyond Kingston and move into other parishes in the coming days, as works continue islandwide in a structured rollout aimed at restoring key routes and supporting daily commuting, commerce, and public transportation.” – Robert Nesta Morgan, Minister with Responsibility for Works
Motorists are being asked to exercise caution when travelling through active work zones, obey posted instructions, and expect intermittent delays as crews carry out patching operations.
Further updates on the programme’s rollout schedule and the next areas to be targeted will be provided as works progress.

Cabinet Minister the Hon. Robert Montague on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (MEGID)  officially handed over the $58 million Torrington Park rehabilitation project to residents today (December 9, 2025), marking a renewed commitment to safety, dignity, and long-term community development.

Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Minister Montague noted that the ceremony marks the culmination of the Government responding effectively and with sensitivity to a critical need of the community.

Minister Montague emphasized that inner-city communities deserve equal celebration for progress and investment.

“This community matters. If we spend the money, we must celebrate it, make the people feel good. These buildings have stood for 30, 40, even 50 years and for too long residents felt forgotten. Today signals a new day. Cutting the ribbon is not the end, it is the beginning of a process leading to dignity, safety, and cooperation”, the Minister stated.

Minister Montague urged the residents to unite through their Citizens’ Association and Neighbourhood Watch, noting that community building requires shared responsibility.

“You must meet the Member of Parliament partway. He has many communities to serve, but when people cry out and their MP brings that cry into the halls of power, results like this happen. The system works when all of us work together”, Minister Montague commented.

The Minister also committed to addressing long-standing land tenure issues, emphasizing that MEGID’s Social Services Branch will return to the community to work with residents on legal and occupancy matters for both the rehabilitated units and the more than 200 surrounding units.

Philip Stephenson, Director of Projects and Technical Services at MEGID addressed the ceremony and highlighted the scope of the works, noting that technical assessments had confirmed structural deterioration.  He noted that Dockswell Construction Ltd, was subsequently engaged to execute urgent works, which began on November 19, 2024.

Upgrades included:

• Reconstruction of a collapsed staircase
• Reinforcement of additional staircases
• Full roof rehabilitation and waterproofing
• Sealing and repainting of moisture-damaged walls
• Installation of water closets
• Concrete repairs and the
• Installation of a new garbage skip to support proper waste management

“Today we celebrate not just construction work, but renewed safety and an improved quality of life”, Mr. Stephenson noted.   Mr. Stephenson thanked the residents for their patience and cooperation throughout the rehabilitation process.

Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for St. Andrew Southern, the Hon. Mark Golding, also attended the ceremony and welcomed the completion of the work.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, says the National Works Agency (NWA) continues to make strong progress in restoring critical road corridors across western Jamaica following the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking at a special press briefing on Monday, November 3, 2025, Minister Morgan, who holds responsibility for the Works Portfolio, confirmed that the Agency has been highly effective in reopening vital routes to enable the safe movement of relief supplies and essential goods.

“Our main priority is providing a corridor for persons to be able to bring relief supplies especially to the western parishes that have been severely impacted. We have been extremely successful in creating that corridor. We now have a good corridor from the border of St. Elizabeth, all the way to Savanna La Mar and we have a corridor from St. James coming through St. Ann, Trelawny all the way to Savanna La Mar on the other side” the Minister said.

Minister Morgan explained that initial efforts were concentrated on establishing single-lane access to affected communities, which was later expanded to two lanes in several key areas due to increased vehicular movement.

“Traffic volumes tripled within 24 hours as residents, relief agencies, and support teams mobilised. This led to congestion in locations such as the Bog Walk Gorge and sections of Westmoreland, particularly near Ferris. We then decided that we had to expand the corridor to create two-lane access. Our teams responded swiftly to widen sections of the corridor, restoring safer and more efficient travel,” he stated.

A major operational priority has been ensuring that heavy-duty and logistics vehicles, including fuel and supply trucks, can traverse the full network. The Minister reported that since Sunday, November 2, several blockages have been cleared to allow these vehicles to deliver much-needed resources to communities and service stations.

Minister Morgan noted that over 100 contractors, equipment operators, and technical personnel are currently engaged in clearance and restoration work across multiple parishes, including Trelawny, St. James, Manchester, Clarendon, St. Thomas, Portland, and St. Mary.

The Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development continues to coordinate closely with the NWA, municipal corporations, and emergency management agencies to restore full connectivity across the national road network and support the broader recovery effort.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Developoment (MEGID) Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, says the Montego Bay Perimeter Road is 80 percent complete with completion set for May 2026.

Minister Morgan who has responsibility for the Works portfolio, made the disclosure during a tour of sections of the Perimeter Road today (October 15, 2025)

“The completion date for this section of the Perimeter Road, not the Long Hill Section, is May 2026. We are a little bit ahead of target as the contractors have been moving a little bit faster than we predicted, which is a good thing. The work that we have done on this road is a testament to the collaboration between China Harbour, our local contactors as well as the engineers, a lot of them from local companies and the management of NROCC (National Road Operating and Constructing Company). I think it is an example of how we can build roads in the future” the Minister stated.

Pointing to the work that has already been done, Minister Morgan noted that the road has been asphalted, where before there was only aggregate.

“There was base material in the form of aggregate and now we have 2 inches of asphalt which is the base course. There is another layer of asphalt which is to be put on, which is going to be another inch and a half of asphalt. So the standard for this road is another three and a half inches of asphalt which our engineers tell us is sufficient to deal with the traffic”, he noted.

Responding to a question from the media about opening sections of the road ahead of completion, Minister Morgan said any such plans would have to be guided by the safety of the motorists.

“We’re putting in railings and other safety features to ensure that motorists who will use the road are able to use it in a very safe way. It is an active construction site so you wouldn’t want to open the road too early and put persons lives at risk.

So when the time is appropriate and when we feel that we have put in the necessary safety measures and the paving has been done in a particular way, we will definitely announce that we are opening a section of the road to the motoring public”, he stated.

Work on the US$274 million Montego Bay Perimeter Road project includes the:

• Montego Bay Bypass Road,
• Barnett Street/West Green Avenue Road Rehabilitation,
• Long Hill Bypass to reduce road traffic congestion, and, a comprehensive drainage study of the Montego Bay Bypass area.