KINGSTON Mayor Andrew Swaby has softened his stance on the Government’s proposed One Road Authority, signalling conditional support for the initiative even while he maintained concerns about funding and employee shortages.

“Since our last council meeting, the minister invited all mayors to a meeting where certain aspects of the proposal were clarified,” he said in reference to minister with responsibility for works Robert Morgan. “We are also advised that further engagement and consultation will be held with all councillors across the parishes. We look forward to those discussions and expect that they will provide a necessary clarity and allow for meaningful input from those of us closest to the realities of the problem.”

Speaking to city managers at the April sitting of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) monthly meeting on Tuesday, Swaby said recent consultations with Morgan had clarified key aspects of the proposal and addressed some of the objections he previously raised, particularly around the roles of local authorities becoming centralised.

“We are encouraged that our concerns have not fallen on deaf ears as we continue to advocate for inclusion of local authorities in any centralised road management framework. We have been advised that local authorities will retain oversight of the roads currently under our management, particularly community roads, an issue we previously raised as a key concern,” said Swaby, noting that this aspect was a point of major contention between the KSAMC and central government when the initiative was first introduced.

At the same time, Swaby explained that some roadways will transition to central government with the proposed authority taking on regulatory oversight for road maintenance across Jamaica, which he said “is a role which, if properly executed, could bring greater consistency and coordination”.

However, the mayor cautioned that significant issues remain unresolved, highlighting what he described as the long-standing problem of insufficient funding for road maintenance. He argued that without clear provisions for increased budgetary support to municipal corporations, the authority may struggle to achieve its intended outcomes.

Swaby further argued his point of insufficient financing, using his platform to respond to a comment by Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie regarding municipal corporations receiving adequate funding but mishandling its allocation.

McKenzie was responding to comments from Opposition spokesperson on local government Natalie Neita Garvey during a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee on March 9, which examined the 2026-27 Estimates of Expenditure ahead of the budget debate.

“The municipal corporations are self-sufficient. There are almost 21 streams of revenue that are available to the municipal corporations; the Ministry of Local Government has control over only three of those revenue streams — the Parochial Revenue Fund, property taxes, and trade licences,” said McKenzie as he pointed out that the other sources of revenue are used at the discretion of the municipal corporations.

But on Tuesday, Swaby argued that central government had traditionally supported established posts, with recent salary increases and reclassifications resulting in reduced funding to the corporation.

“…The minister responded by saying that the funding allocation is adequate, but that is not the case,” said Swaby.

“Historically, central government would provide funding for these established posts. However, subsequent to the recent salary increase and reclassification of some positions on the establishment, the KSAMC has seen a significant reduction in funding from central government.”

Swaby also pointed to staffing shortages within the KSAMC’s Roads and Works Department revealing that only one of four assistant superintendent posts was filled, and just one of 15 work overseer positions is currently occupied.

Swaby said that these limitations continue to affect the municipality’s ability to carry out road maintenance effectively, particularly as demands increase across the Corporate Area.

“These are critical issues that must be addressed if the authority is to achieve intended objectives,” he said.