Positive meeting between IMAJ, GOJ about SPARK Programme
The Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Robert Nesta Morgan, and members of the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ) met on Wednesday to discuss the Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement (SPARK) Programme.
According to a release on Thursday, Minister Morgan used the meeting to assure the IMAJ that “the Government has no intention of excluding local contractors from the SPARK or any other programmes.”
He has expressed instead that the Government is looking forward to the inclusion of local contractors through “active collaboration.”
Meanwhile, members of the IMAJ used the meeting to outline their proposals and concerns on how to improve the programme and increase local participation.
Richard Mullings, President of the IMAJ, expressing his appreciation for the meeting said the IMAJ is pleased with the Government’s “commitment to inclusivity” and reiterated that the conversation marks a “significant step towards ensuring that local contractors play a vital role in the SPARK Programme.”
According to the news release, at the end of the meeting, there was a commitment to open dialogue. Minister Morgan emphasised his commitment to engaging the works sector in more consultations to address emerging and longstanding issues, while the IMAJ expressed its optimism that the consultations would be able to provide clarification to its membership on how to better access project opportunities and improve collaboration with the public sector.
The SPARK Programme seeks to rehabilitate over 2,000 of the island’s roadways over two years and will be administered by the Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation, Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, and the National Works Agency.