Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby on Tuesday reiterated his opposition to the Government’s proposed One Road Regulatory Authority, insisting that the Administration should provide better funding to local authorities for road works.

The mayor, who was addressing councillors at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) monthly meeting, argued that poorly managed repairs to community roads were not as a result of inaction by local authorities but from a lack of adequate funding from the Government.

“The reality is that local authorities are constantly asked to do more with less. I’m not suggesting that everything under the current system works perfectly. I’m not suggesting that there aren’t weaknesses within both the local authority and NWA (National Works Agency), and it would be disingenuous to deny that.

“However, the more important question is why so many parochial roads are not up to standard. The answer is not a lack of effort or concern at the local level; it’s a lack of resources. Local authorities are simply not funded at the level that allows us to properly maintain the roads under our care. The allocation from central government is woefully inadequate,” charged Swaby. The One Road Regulatory Authority was proposed by the Government in a move to govern the management of Jamaica’s road infrastructure. According to minister with responsibility for works Robert Morgan, who was providing an update on the initiative on November 25, 2025 , the regulatory body would monitor and manage the various road networks, addressing long-standing issues related to maintenance, accountability, and development.

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

He pointed out, however, that some roads did not fall under any of these entities, posing a challenge when repairs were needed. He also noted that the need for the implementation was critical and would address uncertainty surrounding road rehabilitation and standards.

But on Tuesday, Mayor Swaby argued that issue resided with the budget of local authorities being stretched thin, noting that funds received for road management are further split to accommodate the maintenance of drains, carry out community programmes, and fund seasonal initiatives.

“On average, the KSAMC receives approximately $75 million per month through the Parochial Local Revenue Fund for road maintenance. That figure is a drop in the bucket when compared to the size of the road network we manage, and the funding available for the National Works Agency. By contrast, when the NWA undertakes drain cleaning or similar activities, it benefits from separate budgetary allocations that do not compete with the road maintenance funding,” he said.

Swaby further challenged the idea of totally nationalised roads, raising the notion that residents should have access to authorities to state their complaints with community roads.

He told councillors that he was concerned that this access may be compromised if all roads are overseen by central government.

“Parochial roads are community roads. The interior roads residents use daily to get to work, school, and home. Decisions about prioritisation and maintenance should therefore be made as close as possible to the communities they serve. I seriously question whether residents will have meaningful influence over the maintenance of their community road if the authority is transferred to a central government body,” stated Swaby.

He insisted that to achieve standardised road quality across the island, the starting point must be proper and equitable funding for local government.

“Step by step, core responsibilities appear to be removed from local authorities. If the intention is to weaken local government rather than empower it, then it should be stated plainly. But if we are serious about good governance, accountability, and effective delivery, then the answer cannot be to call out local authorities. The answer lies in appointing them, funding them properly, and ensuring that coordination across State agencies works in the best interest of the people we serve,” he said.