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.