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Receivables Factoring: Unlocking Faster Growth for Jamaican Businesses

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Minister with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, in his contribution to the 2026/2027 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 17, 2026), reported that the dualisation of Grange Lane in Portmore is now substantially complete and already delivering meaningful relief to motorists and commuters.

Meanwhile, the widening of Braeton Road and Hellshire Main Road has reached approximately 40 per cent completion.

“As Portmore continues to grow and prepares to become Jamaica’s fifteenth parish, we must ensure that the infrastructure keeps pace with development. These investments are about creating a modern road network capable of supporting increased population growth, commercial expansion, public transportation, and future economic activity,” Minister Morgan said.

The Minister also announced progress on two major road improvement projects that have completed the tender opening process.

The widening of Arthur Wint Drive, including potable water and sewage infrastructure works, is estimated at $2.21 billion, while the widening of Camp Road, which also includes utility upgrades, carries an estimated cost of $1.18 billion.

Combined, the projects represent approximately $3.4 billion in planned urban infrastructure investments.

Minister Morgan emphasised that the projects are designed to deliver more than additional road capacity.

“These are not stand-alone road projects. They are integrated infrastructure investments that address traffic movement, potable water systems, sewage infrastructure, road safety, utility coordination, and the long-term functionality of critical urban corridors,” he said.

The CAPEX pipeline also includes planned upgrades to Tom Redcam Drive; East Kings House Road and Lady Musgrave Road; New Entry to Portmore and Municipal Boulevard; and the Sandy Gully Bridge to Ken Hill Drive corridor.

Minister Morgan said the projects form part of a coordinated national infrastructure agenda that includes the SPARK Programme, the Montego Bay Perimeter Road, the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP), and the Port Antonio Bypass.

“This is not scattered construction. This is a national infrastructure programme. We are improving how Jamaicans move, strengthening resilience, supporting development, and creating stronger connections between communities and opportunities across the country,” he said.

The post Government Advancing J$3.4B in Urban Road Improvements under CAPEX first appeared on Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (MEGID).

Making his contribution to the 2026/2027 Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Wednesday,(June 17, 2026), Minister with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, said the programme represents a major investment in national resilience, public safety and economic development, ensuring communities remain connected even in the face of increasingly severe weather events.

“The Accelerated Bridge Programme is about far more than replacing ageing structures. It is about strengthening the links that connect communities, support economic activity and keep Jamaicans moving safely across the country,” Minister Morgan said.

The programme, which has progressed from policy approval and technical development into the financing and execution phase, is designed to provide safe, durable and climate-resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding stronger floods, changing rainfall patterns and other extreme weather impacts.

The updated technical offer has been submitted, with negotiations and final approvals expected in the coming weeks.

Minister Morgan noted that Hurricane Melissa underscored the importance of resilient bridge infrastructure, as damaged crossings can quickly isolate communities and disrupt economic activity.

“Bridge resilience is road resilience. When a bridge fails, the value of the road network is compromised. This programme is therefore a national connectivity and resilience initiative that will strengthen Jamaica’s infrastructure for decades to come,” he said.

The Government has demonstrated its commitment to improving critical bridge infrastructure through the reopening of the Troy Bridge on June 5, 2026, effectively restoring a vital connection between Manchester and Trelawny, and the reopening of the Spring Village Bridge in St. Catherine on June 12, 2026.  Construction also continues on the Craigmill Bridge in Portland.

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The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for citizens to acquire land while advancing the Government’s broader programme to regularise land tenure, strengthen property rights and promote orderly development across the island.

“I have called all the entities that have a land bank and I said, give me all the lands that you have that can be made available. It will be a competitive process, but we know the issues with equity. Some people can afford; some can’t. The only reason it has not yet been implemented is that we have to figure out how we can ensure that those people who can’t afford it, can still get access,” the Prime Minister disclosed.

The announcement was made today (June 18) at the Ackee Walk and Jackson Town Land Titling Ceremony at the Meadowbrook Church of Christ in St. Andrew, where 40 residents received Certificates of Title.

Addressing the ceremony, Dr. Holness underscored the importance of secure land ownership in protecting citizens’ rights, building intergenerational wealth and supporting Jamaica’s long-term development.

“Titling enshrines ownership in the minds of the people. But ownership comes with responsibility. When you own something, you become a steward. You manage it,” Dr. Holness said, adding that ownership creates a sense of responsibility and stewardship that benefits not only individual families but also communities and the wider society.

The Prime Minister warned that the continued growth of informal settlements is limiting Jamaica’s development potential by restricting the use of land for housing, transportation, sewage infrastructure and other critical public investments.

“People are moving onto land and using social injustice issues as a basis for doing it without recognising that their individual actions are limiting the development options of the country and limiting their own options,” he said.

He added that “the communities that are created cannot be safe, will not be adequately serviced and have no economic value in terms of passing on intergenerational wealth.”

The Ackee Walk and Jackson Town communities were declared under the Registration of Titles, Cadastral Mapping and Tenure Clarification (Special Provisions) Act in October 2024, enabling the Government to accelerate the resolution of longstanding tenure issues complicated by estate matters, family disputes and historical ownership challenges.

Meanwhile, Minister with responsibility for Land Titling and Settlements, Hon. Robert Montague, encouraged beneficiaries to safeguard their newly acquired assets and urged other Jamaicans to pursue the formalisation of their land holdings.

“It is not a piece of paper you are getting,” Minister Montague said. “You are getting hope, opportunity, security and something to leave for your children.”
The Minister also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to orderly development, warning against squatting on public lands and attempts to acquire property through unlawful means.

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Making the announcement during his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in Parliament today (June 17, 2026), Minister with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, said the Jamaican Road Register will be a cornerstone of the Government’s broader road-sector reform programme and the establishment of the One Road Authority.

“The Road Register will help Jamaica move from uncertainty to clarity,” Minister Morgan said adding that it will “support the classification of roads, provide a clearer public understanding of the road network, and assist with planning, prioritisation, reporting, and accountability”.

The online platform, which is being developed by the Jamaica Information Service and the National Spatial Data Management Branch, is already substantially advanced and will provide an interactive map-based interface through which members of the public can search for roads, locate infrastructure assets and submit reports on road-related issues anywhere across the island.

Importantly, the system is being designed with built-in validation tools, including image and location verification, ensuring that reports are evidence-based, accurately geo-referenced and capable of supporting more effective decision-making.

According to Minister Morgan, the Road Register will provide a comprehensive inventory of Jamaica’s road network and support road classification, planning, prioritisation, reporting and performance monitoring.

“A country cannot properly manage what it cannot properly identify,” the Minister stated, noting that reliable data must be at the centre of modern infrastructure management.

The Register will also support the implementation of published criteria for road designation and classification, helping to determine which roads serve critical national functions such as connecting ports, airports, tourism centres, industrial zones, hospitals and emergency services.

The initiative forms part of the Government’s effort to modernise road management, strengthen accountability and improve the allocation of resources across Jamaica’s approximately 27,000-kilometre road network.

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Making his contribution to the 2026/2027 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday (June 9, 2026), Minister Montague said the proposed initiative forms part of the Government’s broader strategy to accelerate land titling and expand access to legal land ownership across Jamaica.

“Many of our small land occupants find it a little challenging sometimes to find the surveyors’ fees,” he said.

Under the proposed arrangement, people occupying properties of two acres or less would be able to access financing to cover survey costs. Applications would be processed through the Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP), National Land Agency (NLA)-trained attorneys, or recognised land management service providers, with funds paid directly to surveyors.

To safeguard public funds and ensure repayment, a caveat would be lodged against the title until the loan is repaid.

Minister Montague noted that while the Government continues to make progress in expanding land ownership, Jamaica’s land titling backlog remains substantial and could take up to two decades to resolve, even with full public cooperation.

The Surveyor Loan Fund forms part of a broader strategy to remove financial obstacles that prevent Jamaicans from securing legal ownership of land and unlocking its economic value.

The post Government Introduces Surveyor Loan Fund to Expand Land Titling Programme first appeared on Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (MEGID).

Addressing the House of Representatives during his contribution to the 2026/2027 Sectoral Debate yesterday (June 9, 2026), Minister Montague said this forms part of the Government’s efforts to eliminate incentives for the illegal occupation and sale of state-owned lands.

The Minister issued a strong warning to individuals involved in land scamming and unauthorised land sales, stressing that Crown lands cannot be legally sold by private individuals or community representatives.

“No MP, Councillor, JP, big man nor area leader can sell government lands. Those persons scamming people and saying it’s the Member of Parliament who send them, stop. Because it nuh go soh,” he declared.

Minister Montague said the Government has completed drone and spatial surveys of Crown lands across the island and will intensify enforcement action against illegal occupiers and persons involved in the unlawful sale of state-owned properties.

“We are removing the incentive for land scamming,” Minister Montague said, noting that “lands intended for schools, clinics, roads and other public infrastructure are increasingly being targeted by illegal occupants.

He further disclosed that a major programme aimed at addressing land access for landless Jamaicans will be announced in the coming months. The initiative, he said, will seek to expand access to land while safeguarding property rights and supporting orderly national development.

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The agreements were signed today (June 2, 2026) at the Office of the Prime Minister with a total of nine (9) entities being signatories: the Office of the Prime Minister; Ministry of Labour and Social Security; Ministry of Local Government and Community Development; Ministry of Tourism; Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce; the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Jamaica Defence Force, and the National Housing Trust.

GeoConnect is a single, secure and scalable platform that allows participating ministries and agencies to share, cross-reference and verify damage assessment data in real time.

Developed and administered by the National Spatial Data Management Branch within the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, the platform is designed to improve coordination among Government entities, enhance transparency and support the efficient allocation of public resources.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Mrs. Arlene Williams, noted that the initiative emerged from lessons learned following one of the country’s most challenging periods during Hurricane Melissa.

She explained that GeoConnect will strengthen transparency and support more effective decision-making by enabling participating entities to verify beneficiary information across multiple systems.

“This platform enables participating agencies to match beneficiary records across platforms using the taxpayer registration number, location and assessment data. This platform flags overlapping submissions, detects duplication of benefits and supports the transparent allocation of public resources,” she stated.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the signing of the MOU, together with the Data Sharing Agreement and Data Processing Agreement, establishes the governance structure required to ensure the secure and responsible management of information shared through the platform.

“By signing this Memorandum of Understanding today, together with the accompanying data sharing and data processing agreements, we’re establishing the governance framework that ensures that this platform operates under the full authority of the Data Protection Act, with clear rules, accountability, and safeguards,” Mrs. Williams said.

She further assured beneficiaries that their personal information would be managed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and the highest standards of confidentiality.

Mrs. Williams described the initiative as a landmark achievement in Government data management and inter-agency collaboration.

“This is the first time the Government of Jamaica has executed a multi-agency geospatial data governance arrangement of this kind, and it positions us not only for the 2026 hurricane season, but also for any future national programme that requires coordinated verification across government,” she stated.

The GeoConnect platform is expected to strengthen disaster response and recovery efforts by enabling participating entities to access verified information in real time, coordinate benefits to maximise the impact, improve accountability and support more effective service delivery to Jamaicans.

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Speaking during a tour of model container units at the ODPEM Storage Compound in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine today (May 19, 2026), Minister with responsibility for Land Titling and Settlements Hon. Robert Montague detailed the scale of the operation, citing the arrival of hundreds of temporary housing units and support from local and international partners.

“We have several solutions here. We have containerised solutions which were bought by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development. We have another unit kindly donated by the Government and people of China, and then we have some wooden units that will be done by the Red Cross…300 of those,” the Minister said.

A total of 924 containerised units are now on the island, with stockpiles secured in Spanish Town, Luana in St. Elizabeth and Montpelier under Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) supervision.

Minister Montague said early estimates suggested nearly 12,000 families were severely impacted by the hurricane, but extensive reviews by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and Municipal Authorities significantly reduced that number.

“They found when they checked the data, that there was some amount of duplication, where more than one person out of a family, out of a housing unit, made a report. It is not necessarily fraud, it’s just that persons were just making reports, so when they cleaned the data and minus those duplications and minus those who had rebuilt, we are down to approximately 2,500.  So, we have sufficient units and even out of that, there are reports that some persons had received assistance from other NGO’s and are rebuilding”, the Minister noted.

Minister Montague stressed that relocation efforts are being guided by strict environmental and safety considerations under direct instructions from the Prime Minister.

The rollout, he said, has faced setbacks, including environmental concerns over housing base preparations, forcing temporary stoppages and redesigns to meet regulatory standards.  Shipping delays linked to the Chinese New Year and transportation challenges involving the collapsible units also slowed deployment.

“The units also took a little while to get to Jamaica because we ran into the Chinese New Year situation, so shipping was restricted. Once shipping resumed, we faced limitations of crate space and logistics challenges, but we have overcome those.”

To speed up delivery, the Government will now provide grants directly to beneficiaries and communities to construct housing bases, subject to inspection and approval by Municipal Authorities. Some of the funds held by ODPEM for the Melissa relief efforts are earmarked for bases and will be drawn down shortly.

The National Housing Trust (NHT) will also procure two tractor heads equipped with lifting arms to assist in deploying the specialised units.

While acknowledging public frustration over delays, Minister Montague defended the pace of the programme, insisting the Government would not bypass legal or environmental safeguards.

“We are very pleased with the programme so far, although a little disappointed that we were not able to move faster. But we still have to observe and abide by the laws of the land and the regulations. As much as we try to speed it up, it is better that we get it right and get it right once.’, he asserted.

Minister Montague also confirmed that a portion of the units will remain in reserve to strengthen Jamaica’s long-term disaster response capacity, stating that “it is all about future planning”.

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Decisions under the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme are guided by transparency, fairness, and sound project management principles, says Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Robert Morgan.

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Thursday (May 14), Minister Morgan, who has responsibility for Works, said that the selection of roads under the programme is done after consultations involving communities, technical experts, public servants and the implementing agencies, noting that it is free from unilateral political interference.

“It is not an arbitrary decision where a Minister or an MP [Member of Parliament] simply chose roads. The process started through a publicly stated policy approach to road rehabilitation and improvement,” he said.

The Minister said that once roads are selected, designed and contracts issued, significant changes become difficult and costly to implement.

“When a road is chosen, the design process begins, work orders are issued, contractors mobilised and consultants also begin mobilisation,” he pointed out.

“If you change that process midway, the contractor would have already incurred costs and the Government would then have to absorb those costs because there is a valid contractual arrangement in place,” he said.

“At the beginning of a contract, minor adjustments may be possible, but as the project matures, making changes becomes almost impossible. We do not have the funding to return to Cabinet and request additional resources because of avoidable changes; that would be irresponsible,” he added.

The Minister said that any major changes would require returning to the citizens for consultation.

“A politician cannot simply come at the back end and override decisions that communities participated in making,” he pointed out, noting that all requests and correspondence regarding changes are referred to the relevant technical agencies and public officials for assessment to preserve transparency and public confidence in the process.

“Everything we do is transparent. We have not done anything in secret. The public servants and technical agencies are the ones who determine whether circumstances justify adjustments,” he said, stressing that care is taken to not interfere in a way that could raise concerns about fairness or political influence.

The SPARK Programme forms part of the Government’s broader infrastructure improvement strategy aimed at upgrading Jamaica’s road network while ensuring transparency, fiscal responsibility, and community involvement in project implementation.

Written By: Peta-Gay Hodges.

The post SPARK Programme Grounded In Transparency, Fairness and Sound Project Management – Minister Morgan first appeared on Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development (MEGID).