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.

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In responding to concerns regarding the impact of the One Road Authority on Municipal Corporations, the Minister says the Authority has not yet been established and that consultations remain ongoing with key stakeholders, including representatives of local government.

“The One Road Authority is still in development. It has not yet been established. That is why consultations are being held. These engagements provide the opportunity for questions to be asked and concerns to be raised. The consultations will help shape the final framework,” Minister Morgan said.

He added that the Government recognises the importance of local government in the management of Jamaica’s road network, and discussions on road responsibility must also acknowledge the dedicated funding already provided to municipal corporations.

“Municipal corporations are not outside the road-management system. They receive dedicated resources through the Parochial Revenue Fund for local road maintenance and related works. Therefore, when we discuss the state of municipal roads, we must also discuss maintenance planning, prioritisation, technical capacity, and how existing resources are being programmed,” the Minister said.

Minister Morgan noted that the National Works Agency has continued to undertake significant road-repair interventions across Kingston and St Andrew, including on corridors where citizens often experience confusion over which entity has direct responsibility.

“This is one of the reasons the One Road Authority is being pursued. The current system has too much fragmentation. Citizens are often unsure whether a road falls under the NWA, a municipal corporation, or another entity. That lack of clarity weakens accountability and delays effective response,” he said.

The Minister emphasised that the One Road Authority is not intended to undermine municipal corporations or remove the value of local knowledge. Rather, it is intended to create a stronger national framework for road classification, standards, asset management, data, maintenance planning, and performance monitoring.

“The objective is not to diminish local government. The objective is to ensure that every road authority, whether national or local, operates within a clearer, better-coordinated, and more accountable system. Jamaica cannot continue with a structure where responsibility is blurred and the public is left frustrated,” Minister Morgan said.

He added that questions about funding, maintenance cycles, and technical support are legitimate and will continue to form part of the consultation process. However, he cautioned that public commentary should not suggest that municipal corporations have no existing role or resources.

“The Jamaican people deserve a mature discussion. Resources matter, but systems matter as well. Funding must be matched by clear standards, accurate data, proper prioritisation, and accountability for results,” Minister Morgan said.

The Minister said the Government will continue to engage mayors, councillors, municipal corporations, the National Works Agency, and other stakeholders as the proposed Authority is developed.

“The One Road Authority is about moving from confusion to coordination, from fragmented responsibility to clearer accountability, and from short-term reaction to long-term road asset management. That is the reform Jamaica needs,” Minister Morgan said.

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The partnership was solidified through an inception ceremony held at the Jamaica House Banquet Hall on May 12, 2026.

The Project, funded through a grant of Nine Million United States Dollars (USD$9,000,000.00) from KOICA, valued at approximately One Billion Four Hundred and Twenty-three Million Four Hundred and Forty Thousand Jamaican Dollars (JMD$1,423,440,000.00), will establish the Land Administration Innovation Centre (LAIC) at 84 Harbour Street, Kingston. The agreement received Cabinet approval in October 2025, and was executed between KOICA, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, and the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development acting through the National Land Agency (NLA).

The Land Administration Innovation Centre (LAIC) will provide structured training and technical development opportunities for high-level policymakers, managerial personnel, and operational-level officers across the public sector.

Speaking at the Inception Ceremony, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Honourable, Andrew Holness expressed that the LACEP is aimed at reducing the barriers relating to security of tenure noting that through “a partnership with the Government of Jamaica and Korea International Cooperation Agency we are strengthening the institutional skills, systems and technology that will enable Jamaica to administer land more efficiently, more transparently, and more productively.”

Building on this vision, the Prime Minister further disclosed that the LAIC supported by the Project will be “renovated and equipped as a modern training and innovation facility for the National Land Agency and the wider government. It is the kind of investment which shifts institutional capacity in a tangible and lasting way.”

The Centre will be renovated and outfitted with conference rooms, computer laboratories, office spaces and specialised training infrastructure to support the implementation of the training programmes, which will be offered to build the Government’s capacity in land surveying, cadastral mapping, GIS applications, land record management, cybersecurity, geoinformatics, and surveying technician development.

Dr. Holness further affirmed that “the real value lies in the people that will train there and the capability that will take root. Technology alone does not transform institutions, people do. When people have knowledge, discipline, systems and leadership to use technology effectively institutions change and they change rapidly.”

Minister with responsibility for Land Titling and Settlements, Honourable Robert Montague, welcomed the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening Jamaica’s land administration framework and enhancing national technical capacity. He declared that “today is an historic day [as it] marks another chapter in the long history of friendship between Jamaica and South Korea.” He reiterated that the benefits of the project will be far-reaching as it will address the “shortage of technicians and surveying professionals in the field.”

Meanwhile, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Joongkeun Oh, reaffirmed the Republic of Korea’s commitment to advancing Jamaica’s land administration framework and building the technical capacity of the country’s geospatial professionals.

“The LACEP we launch today is far more than a technical project to build a system. It is a decisive first step toward realising Jamaica’s grand vision, awakening the nation’s sustainable economic potential, dramatically enhancing administrative efficiency through transparent digital governance,” he said.

Mr. Oh also expressed that the Government of the Republic of Korea and KOICA “stand ready to facilitate strategic consultation with the GOJ and international financial institutions” and “are prepared to collaborate closely in exploring practical financing and implementation strategies to advance the vision of the Government of Jamaica.”

The Project will be implemented through collaboration with the Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corporation (LX) and the University of Seoul, which will serve as executing partners, supporting project management, technical training, curriculum development, and institutional strengthening initiatives.

The LACEP initiative forms part of broader efforts to institutionalise training and knowledge transfer in land administration, while positioning Jamaica to respond more effectively to the evolving demands of digital transformation, sustainable development, and modern geospatial management.

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Minister Morgan said the Opposition is attempting to convert legitimate community concerns about road conditions into a false narrative that the SPARK Programme has failed.

“The Government will not capitulate to a misleading political narrative. SPARK is changing lives and communities. It is a serious national road rehabilitation programme dealing with serious infrastructure problems across Jamaica,” Minister Morgan said.

The Minister noted that SPARK is already in active implementation, with seven work orders issued covering 313 roads islandwide. Of these, 107 roads have either been completed or are at the paving/asphalting stage, while 89 are at varying stages of planning. He further noted that approximately $10.4 billion has already been certified, including mobilisation.

Minister Morgan emphasized that no road rehabilitation programme of this scale, structure and national impact has ever before been attempted by any Government in the history of Jamaica. He said SPARK represents a deliberate shift from ad hoc patching to a coordinated national programme of rehabilitation, involving community roads, main roads, drainage, waterline coordination, engineering design, contractor mobilisation and quality assurance.

“No programme of this nature and impact has ever been attempted before by any Government. SPARK is not a slogan; it is a national infrastructure intervention already delivering across Jamaica. The scale is unprecedented, the work is active, and roads are being completed, paved and advanced in communities across the country,” Minister Morgan stated.

“The Jamaican people do not want temporary patchwork that may wash away after the next heavy rain. They want roads that are properly designed, properly drained and properly built,” the Minister stated.

Minister Morgan also addressed comments made by Opposition representatives regarding road selections under SPARK. He noted that the roads included under the programme were not arbitrarily chosen or imposed on communities.

“It is misleading to suggest that roads under SPARK were simply selected by a previous Member of Parliament or imposed on communities. These roads were chosen through an open consultation process involving residents, community stakeholders and political representatives, including members of the Opposition. The communities spoke, their priorities were recorded, and those voices cannot now be betrayed or casually discarded for political convenience,” Minister Morgan said.

He added that the Opposition now appears to be advocating for changes to roads already selected through consultation, without demonstrating that the affected communities have been consulted again.

“The Jamaican people must ask why they now want to alter roads that communities themselves identified as priorities. The voices of residents matter. They cannot be respected only when politically convenient,” he said.

He further noted that the main road component of SPARK will begin this year and will complement community road rehabilitation by improving the wider network used daily for transportation, commerce, education, agriculture, tourism and emergency access.

“SPARK 2 will finish what could not be completed under SPARK 1. The main road component will also begin this year and will target critical corridors that connect communities, parishes and economic centres. The claim that rural and remote communities will be left behind is simply false,” Minister Morgan said.

The Minister said the Government will continue strengthening implementation, improving communication with communities, ensuring better coordination among the National Works Agency and contractors, and holding contractors to required standards.

“The Opposition’s approach is to oppose but Government’s focus is different: we are turning consultation into construction, and construction into completed roads. We  remain committed to transparency, accountability, fairness and delivery under SPARK and the wider road improvement programme.

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Of the total allocation, each constituency will receive an average of $2 million to undertake drain cleaning in vulnerable and priority communities. This allocation is consistent with last year’s increased provision to constituencies, which strengthened the capacity of Members of Parliament to support drain cleaning and other local mitigation activities before the hurricane season.

The balance of the allocation will be used by the National Works Agency to carry out special mitigation interventions at the national level, particularly in areas requiring technical support, heavier equipment, or works beyond the scope of constituency-level drain cleaning.

Minister with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, said the allocation reflects the Government’s commitment to early action, practical preparation, and improved resilience.

“We are acting before the storms come. Last year, the Government increased the allocation to constituencies for pre-hurricane mitigation, and this year we have maintained that strengthened level of support. This will allow critical drain cleaning to continue in communities before the peak of the hurricane season,” Minister Morgan said.

The Minister noted that Jamaica has experienced increasingly intense rainfall events, placing greater pressure on drains, gullies, roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure. He said the pre-hurricane mitigation programme is part of a wider resilience effort that includes road repairs, bridge works, gully interventions, and improved coordination among state agencies.

Under the programme, Members of Parliament, in consultation with relevant local authorities and technical teams, will identify priority drains and critical areas requiring urgent cleaning. The works will focus on communities most vulnerable to flooding, blocked drains, and poor stormwater runoff.

“Drain cleaning may not always attract headlines, but it is one of the most important things we can do to reduce flooding, protect property, and limit damage during periods of heavy rainfall. We cannot prevent hurricanes, but we can reduce the damage they cause by preparing properly,” Minister Morgan added.

The Government is urging citizens to support the programme by avoiding the dumping of garbage, bulky waste, construction material, and other debris in drains, gullies, and waterways. Improper disposal remains one of the main contributors to flooding during heavy rainfall events.

The Minister said the Government will continue to work with Members of Parliament, Municipal Corporations, the National Works Agency, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure mitigation works are properly targeted and completed in a timely manner.

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The programme will focus on heavily trafficked corridors that are critical to public transportation, commerce, emergency access, tourism, and the daily movement of Jamaicans. It forms part of the Government’s wider road improvement strategy, balancing urgent interventions with longer-term rehabilitation under initiatives such as SPARK and the Accelerated Bridge Programme.

Minister with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, said the second phase of GO Road Rehab is a direct response to the concerns raised by motorists, commuters, transport operators, businesses, and communities about the condition of several major roadways.

“We have heard the call from the public. We understand the frustration of road users, and we accept that many Jamaicans are facing difficult daily commutes because of the condition of some of our main roads. This second phase of GO Road Rehab is intended to move quickly on priority thoroughfares and deliver practical improvements where they are urgently needed,” Minister Morgan said.

The Minister noted that Jamaica’s road network has come under significant pressure from prolonged and intense rainfall, as well as the lingering effects of Hurricane Melissa. While emergency response and rehabilitation works have been ongoing, several corridors continue to show deterioration due to saturated road bases, damaged drainage systems, failed pavement sections, and the general stress placed on infrastructure by severe weather events.

“Many of our roads were already vulnerable, and Hurricane Melissa further exposed those weaknesses. We have also had above-average rainfall across much of the island over the last six months. That is why the Government has had to combine emergency rehabilitation, targeted resurfacing, drainage interventions, and larger-scale road works,” the Minister added.

Works under Phase Two will include targeted patching, resurfacing, drainage-related interventions where necessary, and other road improvement activities based on technical assessments by the National Works Agency. Priority will be given to roads with high traffic volumes, significant surface deterioration, and strategic importance to communities and the economy.

The National Works Agency will lead implementation of the second phase and provide updates as works are scheduled and executed.

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Speaking yesterday (April 30) at the launch of the partnership between the Real Estate Training Institute (RETI) and the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Institute, Minister Montague pointed to the recent passage of the NaRRA Bill in the lower House, as a decisive step toward modernising the country’s development architecture and accelerating economic growth.

“This is a transformational piece of legislation,” Minister Montague said, pointing out that NaRRA’s real impact lies in its ability to unlock land, drive infrastructure expansion and stimulate large-scale real estate activity across Jamaica.

He explained that NaRRA is specifically structured to move projects from concept to execution with greater speed, coordination and efficiency by streamlining approvals and reducing delays across government agencies.

According to Minister Montague, this new development model will have direct and immediate implications for Jamaica’s real estate sector.

“NaRRA will put real estate development in Jamaica on steroids. Major infrastructure projects approved under NaRRA, such as the  new North-South Highway exit,  will open up thousands of acres of land for housing, tourism and commercial use. This will significantly expand Jamaica’s real estate footprint and create high-value opportunities for developers, brokers, valuers and investors,” he said.

Minister Montague further noted that the legislation creates the certainty and momentum investors have consistently demanded, while simultaneously increasing the volume of projects entering the development pipeline.

He outlined that the expected outcomes include increased land availability, expanded housing and commercial development opportunities, as well as greater activity across residential, tourism and investment markets.

“This is not just about building infrastructure. It is about activating real estate at scale,” Minister Montague stated.

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Kingston, Jamaica — Minister with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, MP, says the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network Programme, SPARK, remains one of the most significant road improvement initiatives ever undertaken in Jamaica and is already delivering measurable results across the country.

Minister Morgan was responding to public discussion following media reports suggesting that some roads initially identified through community consultations may not be addressed under the current phase of the programme.

“The Government has never pretended that one programme, however large, could fix every road in Jamaica at once. SPARK was designed as a major national intervention, not the end of Jamaica’s road programme. That is why the Jamaica Labour Party’s manifesto already commits to SPARK II, a continuation of the work to ensure that more important community roads are addressed over time,” Minister Morgan said.

The Minister noted that SPARK is already in active implementation, with seven work orders issued covering 313 roads islandwide. Of these, 38 have been fully completed, 69 are being paved, and 89 are in progress with construction having started. He said approximately $10.4 billion in works has already been certified, despite delays caused by Hurricane Melissa.

“SPARK is not a promise on paper. It is work on the ground. Roads have been completed, others are being paved, and many more are actively under construction. Additional work orders are also being prepared. Communities across Jamaica are already seeing the benefit,” Minister Morgan stated.

He explained that during the consultation process, communities identified more roads than could be immediately accommodated within the first phase budget. This reflected the scale of Jamaica’s road challenge after years of underinvestment, weather damage, utility failures and increasing traffic demand.

“Communities were invited to identify their priorities. In many cases, the needs were greater than the allocation available for the current phase. That does not mean those roads are abandoned. It means they must be properly sequenced, costed and placed into a continuing programme of works,” he said.

Minister Morgan further noted that some roads require significant waterline replacement, drainage work or other supporting infrastructure before proper rehabilitation can take place.

“We will not knowingly put asphalt over failing waterlines and then return months later to dig up the road. That is the old way of doing things. SPARK is about proper road rehabilitation, not cosmetic patching. Where underground infrastructure must be addressed, we are taking that into account so that the investment lasts,” Minister Morgan said.

He added that the current SPARK allocation includes approximately $40 billion for road works and $5 billion for water-related works, with additional funding needs already identified for pipeline construction and materials in certain areas.

The Minister also highlighted that the programme includes both community roads and main roads, with the main road component expected to get underway shortly.

“Jamaica’s road network requires planning, engineering, procurement, sequencing and sustained financing. SPARK is delivering that new standard, and SPARK II will continue the work,” Minister Morgan said.

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Prime Minister Dr. The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has signalled a bold new era of resettling communities across the island, with the transformation of Spicy Grove, Oracabessa, St. Mary, standing as a clear example of the Government’s commitment to uplift residents of informal settlements.

Speaking  at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Spicy Grove, today (April 24, 2026), Prime Minister Holness said the initiative reflects a people-centred approach to development.

“We are in a new era of resettling Jamaica, one that improves quality of life, restores dignity, and expands opportunity,” he said, adding that “There is no need to fear Government intervention. Our objective is to reorganise and improve communities on the basis that no one is made worse off.”

In line with this vision, the Government  through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, has completed a $57.6 million infrastructure upgrade in Spicy Grove, delivering critical improvements that are transforming the community into a safer, more resilient, and structured settlement.

The works  have laid the foundation for formalisation, improved living conditions, and sustainable development.

Minister with responsibility for Land Titling and Settlement and Member of Parliament for Western St. Mary, Hon. Robert Montague, pointed to decisive Government action as the catalyst for change in the community.

“This is a project that was started in 2018 when the good citizens of Spicy Grove who occupy this land, got some eviction notices…We came to you Prime Minister and you gave clear instructions that the Government must buy the land from the landowner,  having declared it under the Local Improvement (Community Amenities) Act “, he stated.
Through strategic negotiations, the Government acquired 3.31 hectares (8.17 acres) of the property in April 2023, with formal possession secured in June 2023,

Executed by Southland Construction Company, the project includes:

• Upgraded roadways
•  A reliable water distribution system
•  Storm water drainage
•  Retaining walls and
• The removal of encroachments to support proper land demarcation.

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