Dear Editor,

The recent discussion about Jamaica’s deteriorating roads raises an important question: Who is responsible, and what happens when that responsibility is not matched by the resources and capacity needed to act?

One problem faced by motorists and communities is that it is unclear which public authority is responsible for a particular road. The Jamaica Road Register could be useful if it gives citizens clear information about road ownership, condition, planned repairs, and the agency responsible. This could make it easier for people to report problems to the right authority and follow up on them.

However, knowing who owns a road should be only the beginning. From the road user’s perspective, a pothole is a pothole, regardless of whether the road belongs to the National Works Agency or a municipal corporation. What matters is whether the problem is identified, assessed, funded, repaired properly and on time.

Road deterioration also has many causes. Drainage problems, overloaded vehicles, utility works, construction activities, poor reinstatement, heavy rainfall, and inadequate maintenance can all contribute. Repairing the surface without addressing the underlying problem may only provide a temporary solution.

The proposed One Road Authority could provide an opportunity to improve coordination and establish more consistent standards for road construction and maintenance. It could also make it easier to monitor performance and determine whether responsible agencies are meeting their obligations. Its effectiveness, however, will depend on clear responsibilities, adequate resources, and meaningful follow-through.

Municipal corporations have an important role in maintaining the roads under their responsibility, but they need the resources and capacity to do so. Central government, meanwhile, must remain accountable for the roads under its authority and for providing a national framework that supports effective road management.

The issue should not become a contest over which level of government deserves the most blame. The public interest is better served by a system in which every road has a clearly identified owner, an appropriate maintenance plan, adequate funding, and measurable standards.

Jamaicans should not have to understand the administrative history of a road before a dangerous pothole can be addressed. They should know who is responsible, how to report the problem, and when they can reasonably expect action.

Better roads will require more than repairing potholes after they appear. They require clear responsibility, preventive maintenance, proper drainage, enforcement, and accountability for results.

Denton Moore
dentonmoore2002@yahoo.com