PNP’s Vaz says public left in the dark as SPARK road promises shift
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Deputy Opposition Spokesperson on Road and Works, Dwayne Vaz, has raised serious concerns regarding what he describes as a pattern of inconsistencies and confusion surrounding the Government’s SPARK road rehabilitation programme.
In news release on Saturday, Vaz pointed to recent statements by Minister with responsibility for Works Robert Morgan, which he said appear to directly contradict prior budget estimates and public commitments.
Vaz, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Westmoreland Central, argued that the discrepancies have created significant uncertainty about the programme’s true scope, timeline, and cost.
He highlighted that the programme, originally slated as a short-term initiative from January 2025 to March 2028, now appears, according to expenditure estimates, set to extend until 2030.
In addition, he shared concerns about what he described as confusion regarding the scale of works
“While Minister Morgan recently indicated SPARK would address approximately 1,200 kilometres of Jamaica’s 26,000 kilometres of roads, this figure seemingly differs from earlier, smaller scope documentation,” Vaz stated.
He also flagged what he described as a “worrying reduction” in the number of roads to benefit. Initial estimates promised approximately 693 roads, ensuring at least 10 per constituency.
“However, recent statements suggest this figure may have been cut to around 400, raising questions about whether the original constituency allocation will be honoured,” Vaz said.
He also highlighted what he described as perhaps the most critical issue, a significant financing discrepancy.
“Previous budget estimates allocated $20 billion for this financial year and $14 billion next year to complete SPARK. Yet, the current budget allocates only $4.5 billion, suggesting many roads slated for construction this year may not be finished,” he said.
Noting that road rehabilitation is critical for communities, farmers, and the economy, the MP maintained that the public must be given accurate information about what will be delivered, when it will be delivered, and how the funds are being allocated.
Vaz is demanding that the Government provides Parliament and the public with consistent, verified updates on the confirmed number of roads, the completion timeline, and the distribution of projects across constituencies.
