KINGSTON, Jamaica — Member of Parliament (MP) for St Mary Central, Omar Newell, has raised concerns about the implementation of the Government’s SPARK programme, questioning delays, budgeting and the selection of roads in the constituency.

Speaking during a special press briefing on Tuesday titled “Uncovering the Facts on the SPARK Road Programme”, Newell said several communities in St Mary Central continue to suffer because of poor road conditions despite promises made under the programme.

The SPARK programme, which is aligned with the Government of Jamaica’s goals for economic growth and social development, is divided into four major construction packages aimed at improving the island’s road infrastructure.

Newell argued that communities including Islington, Marlborough, Essex and Tremolesworth have been severely affected by deteriorating roads.

“These communities are dying. Islington has a high school, one of two high schools in the constituency, and three primary schools. There is no safe way in and no safe way out,” he said.

He disclosed that he attended a SPARK consultation in May 2024 during which residents were informed that 10 roads had been selected under the programme. Newell explained that he left the consultation expecting roads including Thompson Town Road, Esher Avenue and Albion Mountain to be rehabilitated, along with several others in the constituency.

According to Newell, after he was declared a candidate for Member of Parliament for St Mary Central, he was contacted regarding the naming of liaison officers for what were described as two priority roads. He said work on those roads began in March 2025.

“Excavators rolled in, teams rolled in, they started excavating the roadway,” he said.

However, Newell claimed that in April 2025 the liaison officer for Kilancholly raised concerns that asphalt works were about to begin despite long-standing leaking issues. He said residents became frustrated and threatened to contact the media because repeated complaints seemed futile.

“The Member of Parliament was getting nowhere, the liaison was getting nowhere, and so when the media rolled in, Minister (with responsibility for Works) [Robert] Morgan went on media and indicated at that time in May of 2025 that it was already known that piping was a part of the Kilancholly project,” the MP stated.

Newell argued that despite those assurances, residents continued to experience major difficulties well into 2026.

“We are now in May 2026, and up to last week, people were still driving into Kilancholly and into Tremolesworth experiencing significant delays because of a ridiculous amount of mud on the road,” he said.

“Only after a press release was sent out last week did a team on Saturday go into the community, with significant distrust from residents because they have seen many stops and starts over time,” he added.

Newell further argued that if Minister Morgan intended to take credit for the successes of the SPARK programme, he must also accept responsibility for its shortcomings.

He also raised concerns about the programme’s funding allocation in St Mary Central.

“Upon becoming Member of Parliament, it was brought to my attention that 10 roads would have an estimated cost of over $800 million, but the budget for the roads in St Mary Central under SPARK is $272 million,” he said.

Newell questioned whether the promises made under the programme were politically motivated, arguing that public trust was being undermined.

“If you can’t trust the word of your Government, you can’t trust anything,” he said.

— Carlysia Ramdeen