KINGSTON, Jamaica- Work is scheduled to begin on 100 roads under the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme before the end of fiscal year 2024/25 on March 31.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Works, Robert Morgan, said the SPARK
Programme’s buildout phase began in Harbour Heights in Kingston Eastern and Port Royal.

“By next week, we’ll be announcing 40 roads which will begin immediately all across the island… and the month after that, we’ll be announcing another 30 roads, that’s 70; the month after that, we will be announcing another 30 roads,” Morgan said.

He was addressing Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

Responding to concerns about delays in the SPARK Programme’s implementation.

Morgan pointed out that time is being spent conducting assessments and constructing proper designs.

Additionally, he said there are some roads that require land acquisition, extensive pipe works or realignment.

“A lot of us know the history of our roads. Most of our roads evolved from community tracks where persons moved to particular areas, and
they built their own roads and somebody came many years later and gave them a road without any design or anything. Some of these have flaws
that we have to correct, as we had to do on the South Coast Highway Improvement Project. So by March, almost every constituency in the country will see road works taking place,” the minister stated.

Morgan encouraged Jamaicans with questions or concerns to engage with the ministry’s team on social media – @asksparkjamaica.

-JIS