KINGSTON, Jamaica — Consultations will be held with key stakeholders regarding the establishment of the One Road Authority, which will regulate the management of Jamaica’s road infrastructure.

The regulatory body will monitor and manage the various road networks, addressing long-standing issues related to maintenance, accountability and development.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with responsibility for Works, Robert Morgan, provided an update on the initiative during the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ) seminar, held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on November 25.

“We are in the thinking stage of it, and we’re going to be consulting with the Masterbuilders Association, the municipal corporations and others about how we can formulate a comprehensive framework to govern our road infrastructure,” he said.

He noted that Jamaica has approximately 27,000 kilometres of roads, for which various agencies, including the National Works Agency, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority and municipal corporations have responsibility.

The minister pointed out, however, that some roads do not fall under any of these entities, posing a challenge when repairs are needed.

He said the need for the implementation is critical and will address uncertainty surrounding road rehabilitation and the standards.

“So, imagine placing all roads in Jamaica under one regulatory framework, meaning all roads in Jamaica will be subjected to standards. So, if it is a farm road, it has to be subjected to this standard, no matter which parish. If it’s a municipal road, it has to be subjected to this standard, no matter which municipality,” the minister said.

“If it is a main road, it cannot be one contractor in St Thomas fixing the road with this standard, but another one in St Mary fixing it in another standard. So, that’s the first thing, streamlining planning and maintenance,” he added.

Morgan emphasised that the initiative is not a plan by the Government to disempower authorities.

“It is a plan to empower citizens. In the balance of power, we believe that the citizens’ interest remains paramount and at the end of the day, the people really do not care who owns the road. The people care that the road is repaired,” he said.

— JIS