LIMA, Peru:- Minister with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, is in Peru this week for a series of important discussions and technical exchanges on infrastructure delivery, reconstruction, resilience and institutional reform.

Minister Morgan is leading the Government of Jamaica delegation participating in the 1st LATAC-UK Infrastructure Forum, being held in Lima from March 23 to 26, 2026. The forum brings together senior government officials from across Latin America and the Caribbean, alongside representatives of the United Kingdom, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, to examine best practices in infrastructure strategy, planning, governance, financing and execution.

Jamaica’s engagements during the four-day visit in Peru are highly significant and closely aligned with the Country’s current priorities. The agenda includes meetings with the National Infrastructure Authority (ANIN) and former leadership of Peru’s reconstruction authority, as well as technical sessions focused on governance, planning, resilience and lessons for Jamaica.

“This visit is about serious engagement and practical learning,” Minister Morgan said.

“Jamaica is in Peru for important discussions and exchange at a time when we are actively considering how to strengthen infrastructure delivery, improve coordination across government, and build systems that are more efficient, resilient and responsive to national needs.”

He said Peru’s experience in recovery from major natural disasters, and resilient reconstruction, are especially relevant as Jamaica continues to assess options for strengthening its own institutional response to reconstruction and resilience.

“Our interest is not only in what Peru has done, but in how it has done it, how institutions have been structured, how technical support has been used, and how projects have been delivered with greater urgency, while ensuring value for money and a high quality product at the same time. These are matters of direct importance to Jamaica.”

The delegation’s programme also includes a site visit on resilient infrastructure, including flood protection works, and a final workshop on reconstruction lessons and next steps for Jamaica.

Minister Morgan said the visit reflects Jamaica’s commitment to learning from credible international models while shaping solutions suited to Jamaica’s own context.

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KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister with Responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, MP, has announced the continuation of consultations on the establishment of a One Road Authority (ORA), an initiative aimed at strengthening coordination, improving accountability, and enhancing the management of Jamaica’s road network.

On Friday (March 20), Minister Morgan, along with Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, met with mayors from across the island to continue the consultation process, engaging municipal leadership on their experiences within the current system and their recommendations for improvement.

“Today’s meeting with our mayors is an important first step as we work to bring greater alignment to how roads are managed across Jamaica. Their input is critical in shaping an approach that is practical, responsive, and grounded in what communities’ experience on the ground,” Minister Morgan said.

The proposed One Road Authority is intended to streamline responsibilities currently shared among multiple entities, reduce duplication, and improve the delivery of road works and maintenance through clearer standards, stronger coordination, and more transparent performance tracking.

The Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development is leading the policy work for this initiative to ensure that the development of the One Road Authority aligns with Jamaica’s wider infrastructure and economic priorities. The Ministry will guide the consultation process, coordinate stakeholder engagement, and support the design of a framework that strengthens governance, improves efficiency, and enhances service delivery across the road network.

Discussions with mayors focused on the realities faced at the municipal level, including challenges related to coordination, prioritisation, resource constraints, and execution. The feedback received will inform the development of a more cohesive and accountable framework.

Minister Morgan emphasised that the consultation process will be inclusive and will continue with a wide cross-section of stakeholders to ensure the final structure reflects national priorities while responding to the needs of communities.

“We are moving deliberately to ensure this approach delivers real improvements for the Jamaican people, with better coordination, clearer accountability, and a stronger road network that supports growth, safety, and connectivity,” he added.

Further consultations will take place in the coming weeks. In attendance were:

1. Mr. Andrew Swaby – Mayor of Kingston
2. ⁠Mr. Norman Scott – Mayor for St. Catherine
3. ⁠Mr. Donovan Mitchell – Mayor of Manchester
4. ⁠Mr. Danree Delancy- Mayor of Westmoreland
5. Mr. Fitzroy Wilson – Mayor for St Mary
6. ⁠Cllr Fenley Douglas – represented Mayor Leon Thomas of Portmore
7. ⁠Mr. Sheridan Samuels – Mayor of Hanover
8. Mr. Louis Chin – Mayor for St Thomas
9. Mr. Joel William’s – Mayor of Clarendon
10. Mr. Richard Vernon – Mayor of St. James
11. ⁠Mr. Paul Thompson – Mayor of Portland
12. ⁠Mr. Michael Belnavis – Mayor of St. Ann

Ministerial support and technical team: present were:

1.    Mrs. Marsha Martin Henry – Permanent Secretary MLGCD
2.    Mr. Dwight Wilson – Director Technical Services
3.    Ms. Venesha Phillips – Advisor/Consultant MLGCD
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Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness in his 2026/2027 Budget Presentation on Thursday March 19, 2026, revealed a comprehensive new Urban Renewal framework aimed at transforming Jamaica’s blighted and underutilised urban spaces.

The proposed framework directly addresses long standing issues in land utilisation across key urban centres, including sections of Downtown and Central Kingston, Spanish Town, and Montego Bay, where vacant lots and derelict buildings occupy land located close to infrastructure, employment, and public services.

While these areas remain among the country’s most well situated, outdated incentives and administrative inefficiencies have constrained redevelopment.

The Prime Minister disclosed that since 1995, the Urban Renewal Tax Relief Act has sought to encourage investment in designated areas, however, only 56 projects have been approved over nearly three decades.

“Last year, I indicated that we would overhaul this framework to make it truly fit for purpose, and that work, led by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) with key stakeholders, is now well advanced,” the Prime Minister stated.

Central to the framework is a strengthening of existing tax incentives. Developers undertaking approved urban renewal projects will be able to apply tax credits against up to 100 per cent of their income tax liability, an improvement on the current 50 per cent cap.

For priority developments, including projects in severely blighted areas, affordable housing initiatives, and critical public facilities, the tax credit rate will increase from 33.3 per cent to 40 per cent, improving project viability and accelerating delivery. Additionally, unused tax credits will become fully transferable, allowing them to move with the property on sale, which will remove a major barrier to investment.

The framework also introduces measures to strengthen the wider development ecosystem:

• Tax exempt interest income of up to eight years for financing associated with approved projects
• Commercial rent deductibility of 200 per cent for tenants operating within designated developments
• Property tax exemption in the first year for first time purchasers of residential units in approved projects

To address chronic delays in approvals, the framework provides for all permits, development approvals, and tax authorisations to be processed through a single digital portal managed by the UDC, which is expected to significantly reduce processing times.

The Urban Renewal programme will be expanded beyond Downtown Kingston to include sections of Central Kingston, St. Catherine, St. James, Portland and St. Thomas. The framework will also include disaster recovery and reconstruction zones, covering affected areas in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover and Trelawny.

While some technical and legislative work remains outstanding, the new Urban Renewal framework is targeted to begin coming into effect in the first quarter of FY2026/2027.

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Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has announced a bold, integrated infrastructure programme to eliminate chronic congestion along Jamaica’s north coast while unlocking a new era of tourism and economic expansion.

Making his contribution to the 2026/27 Budget Debate in Parliament on March 19, 2026, the Prime Minister confirmed that feasibility work is now underway for the North-South Highway Extension Project, featuring two new high-speed, tolled links branching from Mammee Bay west to Discovery Bay and east to Tower Isle.

The corridors are designed to divert through-traffic, significantly reduce travel times, and open new zones for investment.

This will be followed by the North Coast Highway Improvement Project, including targeted dualisation from Montego Bay to Drax Hall to increase capacity and improve safety along one of the island’s busiest corridors.

“The Drax Hall corridor is not a problem to be managed—it is a success story to be expanded,” Holness said. “With this investment, we give it the infrastructure it deserves and unlock the next chapter of growth along Jamaica’s most visited coastline.”

The Prime Minister also outlined the national vision of a continuous, modern highway network connecting all parishes, ports, airports, and major economic centres into a single, seamless system, reducing logistics costs, opening new development corridors, and strengthening resilience in times of disaster.

Implementation is already underway with construction on the Port Antonio Bypass, an 18-kilometre corridor that will divert traffic from the town centre while creating space for housing, commerce, and new economic activity.

“This US$81-million project is the essential precondition for everything else the Master Plan seeks to achieve. The 18-kilometre corridor will be delivered in two phases, the first spanning Norwich to Turtle Crawl Harbour, seven kilometres of four-lane roadway, new bridges, and upgraded drainage, built inland and elevated to protect against storm surges and coastal erosion”, he explained.

Grounded in lessons learned from Hurricane Melissa, Prime Minister Holness also said the Government is shifting decisively away from fragmented infrastructure development toward integrated planning, aligning roads, drainage, utilities, and climate resilience from the design stage.

“Building in silos has cost us…we are moving to a disciplined, integrated approach, planning well, building well, and maintaining consistently so we never pay twice”, the Prime Minister noted.

Supporting this shift are governance reforms, including the introduction of the One Road Authority to strengthen coordination, accountability, and lifecycle management across the national network.

 

The Government of Jamaica has intensified recovery efforts in the flood-affected communities of Catherine Hall  and West Green in Montego Bay, following severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Minister with responsibility for Works, in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan,  who visited the area today (November 14, 2025), underscored the scale and urgency of the operation, noting that the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has already removed over 700 truckloads of solid waste to restore public safety.

Minister Morgan toured the affected areas with Hon. Dr. Andrew Wheatley, Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister; Councillor Richard Vernon, Mayor of the Montego Bay Municipal Corporation; Mr. Audley Gordon, Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA); and representatives from the National Works Agency.

“The Prime Minister has assigned Dr. Wheatley and me to work closely with the NSWMA, the municipality, and residents to help return these communities to normalcy. This is a critical task, and we are committed to restoring safe living conditions as quickly as possible,” he noted.

He added that the Government has directed the municipality, councillors, and the NSWMA to mobilise community labour, supported by equipment and water trucks from surrounding areas, to accelerate the cleanup.

Dr. Wheatley, describing the extent of the devastation, noted that floodwaters rose as high as 10 feet, destroying furniture, clothing, roofing, and other household items.

“Our first priority is public health and safety,” he stated. “Over the next few days, we will intensify cleanup efforts, removing debris, damaged furniture, and mud from walkways and homes. This is a necessary step toward restoring dignity and stability to the families who have suffered so greatly.”

Meanwhile, NSWMA Executive Director Audley Gordon confirmed that a new phase of the operation will begin tonight.

“We’re waiting for traffic to ease so we can move in with full force. We thank the residents for their patience. We are well ahead of where we were a week ago, and we will not stop until the job is complete”, he stated.

The Government is urging residents to exercise caution and cooperate with cleanup teams as restoration efforts progress.

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Troy Bridge in Southern Trelawny, which is currently under construction, has remained structurally sound despite the catastrophic flooding and hurricane-force winds brought by Hurricane Melissa.

During a tour of Southern Trelawny on Friday (November 7), Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, Minister with Responsibility for Works in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development said this is an example of building for resilience.

“The Troy Bridge sustained significant water strength during the passage of Hurricane Melissa. But as you can also see, the bridge has stood up as strong as it was before the hurricane came. This is an example of building for resilience.”

He noted that while the surrounding area suffered heavy erosion and geographical changes due to the hurricane, the bridge remained unshaken, a testament to the quality of its design, engineering, and execution.

“We’re building for significant weather events. The entire section around the Troy Bridge has changed geographically, but the bridge has remained firm and strong. We’re very happy and very proud about the design, the engineering, and the execution of the plan,” he added.

Constructed at a cost of $231 million, the Troy Bridge project is now 80 percent complete. Once finished, the bridge will reconnect communities in Trelawny, Manchester, and St. Elizabeth that were cut off following the collapse of the original 19th-century structure during Tropical Storm Grace in August 2021.

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Minister with Responsibility for Works in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, says the Government remains resolute in its commitment to building resilient infrastructure as Jamaica begins the process of rebuilding following the impact of Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking during a damage assessment tour of roads in Southern Trelawny on Friday (November 7), Minister Morgan noted that the durability of Troy Bridge reflects the Government’s focus on resilience, guided by a directive from Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

“The Prime Minister instructed that any infrastructure we’re building over the next several years must have a resilience consideration in the budget, in the design, and in the execution. And we’re very happy that this bridge is demonstrating that resilience consideration,” the Minister said.

He added that this approach aligns with Jamaica’s national development priorities and climate adaptation strategy. The lessons from Hurricane Melissa, he said, have reinforced the need to modernise public infrastructure and reduce community vulnerability to flooding, landslides, and coastal erosion.

Minister Morgan noted that the Ministry, in partnership with the National Works Agency (NWA) and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), is undertaking a comprehensive review of existing infrastructure to identify areas that require reinforcement or redesign in light of changing climate conditions.

Additionally, the Government will prioritise investments in sustainable building materials, advanced engineering solutions, and community-based maintenance programmes to ensure the longevity and safety of critical infrastructure across the island.

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Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced the completion of Jamaica’s first-ever rapid, high-resolution national housing damage assessment, conducted in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (November 4), Dr. Holness said the assessment, coordinated by the National Spatial Data Management Branch (NSDMB) of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (MEGID), analysed more than 428,000 buildings using satellite imagery and drone verification.

“The data reveals that approximately 116,000 structures sustained severe or catastrophic damage, with the greatest impact concentrated in Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, and Manchester,” he noted.

Dr. Holness said the data-driven approach is now guiding targeted relief and reconstruction efforts, resource allocation, and recovery planning.

“We are transitioning from emergency sheltering to stabilisation and repair. Our teams are in the field conducting verification in priority communities, working alongside the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and local authorities. As access is restored in western communities, we will accelerate roofing support and deploy building materials, tarpaulins, and rapid repair kits, to ensure safety and habitation for our citizens,” the Prime Minister explained.

He added that the housing data is being integrated into the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) to inform a resilient national housing recovery programme.

To advance this process, Minister without Portfolio in MEGID, Hon. Robert Montague, has been tasked to lead the development of suitable housing technologies and solutions.

“We have to utilise new building technologies, including pre-fabricated and containerised solutions to deploy rapidly, and so we are examining those options to see what is available. Minister Montague has already convened a working group to ensure that when we actually get out to give houses, which is very soon, we have solutions that match the problem, but solutions that are (also) easy to deploy and cost effective,” Dr. Holness stated.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says rehabilitation of the national road network is progressing steadily, with more than one-third of the 151 corridors damaged by Hurricane Melissa already cleared or reopened to at least single-lane access.

Delivering a statement in Parliament on Tuesday (November 4), Dr. Holness said that 134 roads were fully blocked at the height of the storm, particularly across western parishes.

“Priority has been given to corridors serving hospitals, airports, seaports, water treatment plants, and emergency shelters, ensuring that lifesaving assistance and relief supplies can reach affected communities swiftly. This recovery effort is a testament to the determination and discipline of our technical teams and the spirit of Jamaican partnership,” he noted.

The Prime Minister said the National Works Agency (NWA) has mobilised 14 parish-level technical teams supported by engineers, administrative staff, and key partners, including JPS, NWC, ODPEM, and the security forces.

“Simultaneously, technical teams are assessing bridges, river training structures, retaining walls, coastal revetments, and gully systems. Once access is restored across all affected communities, we will transition from emergency access to full road rehabilitation,” Dr. Holness stated.

He added that major partners under the SPARK Programme, including China Harbour Engineering Company and local contractors, along with private sector and community volunteers, are contributing equipment and manpower to accelerate the national recovery.

Dr. Holness thanked all stakeholders for their support, noting that the combined effort reflects Jamaica’s resilience and unity in recovery.

Construction on the $231 million Troy Bridge in Trelawny is on track for completion by December 2025, says Hon. Robert Morgan, Minister with portfolio responsibility for Works in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development.

Minister Morgan, who toured the site today Wednesday, October 8, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project, noting that the bridge will bring much needed relief to residents affected by its collapse in 2021.

“I’m happy that Jamaica can see the work that we’ve done.  There is still some work left to be done to finish in December, but we’re very sure that when the work is finished, the people of this area will be very proud”, the Minister stated.

He added that road rehabilitation works on both sides of the bridge are set to begin in January 2026, further enhancing access for residents, students, and businesses.

“For the past 4 years this bridge has been out, and it has really had a devastating economic impact… Troy is a very important economic hub for both Manchester and Trelawny.   We have to rehabilitate the roads for the farmers, for the students, for the residents, for persons who are coming here to do business, because we want to reinvigorate Troy”, the Minister noted.

Minister Morgan said the project underscores the Government’s commitment to modernising Jamaica’s infrastructure. “This bridge is from the 1800s… and it just gives you an example of the tremendous task we have on our hands in rehabilitating or rebuilding the infrastructure. But the government is committed to doing it”.

The Troy Bridge collapsed in August 2021 during the passage of Tropical Storm Grace.  It serves the residents of Trelawny, Manchester and St. Elizabeth.