Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda says Cabinet has approved $150 million for the trucking of water to areas that are currently experiencing drought conditions; $40 million will be disbursed immediately to several areas based on their current situation.

Minister Samuda was speaking at today’s (February 26, 2025) Post Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House.

The areas to receive immediate funding include Manchester, Westmoreland; Clarendon; St. Elizabeth; as well as Eastern Portland and Eastern St. Thomas.

“The trucking programme will be overseen by the municipalities. We will be making those transfers through the Ministry of Local Government from MEGJC (the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation) this week.  This will allow Members of Parliament and Councillors to immediately respond to those most in need”, he noted.

Noting that Jamaica had a bimodal rainfall pattern with February traditionally being the driest month of the year, Minister Samuda said as early as December there were reductions in rainfall in the South Central and Western sections of the island.

“What this has triggered for the National Water Commission is not a national problem, but 23 of our systems are experiencing shortfalls in their water intake, meaning 5 percent of our water systems are now being regulated”, he noted.

In the meantime, Minister Samuda explained that the Corporate Area would not experience water regulations as the latest checks, showed the Hermitage Dam at 89 percent and the Mona Reservoir at 98 percent.

This is the first of many drought alleviation steps to be taken.  The Government through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, will commence the distribution of 10,000 water tanks by this weekend.

“What that will allow, in essence, is 150 recipients per constituency to receive tanks. It is a major intervention in the tertiary storage level” the Minister stated.

The Government will continue to monitor the drought conditions carefully.

The National Works Agency’s Accelerated Bridge Programme has been further strengthened with the signing of a Framework of Cooperation between the Government of Jamaica, and two United Kingdom-based entities, Acrow Global Limited and Lagan Aviation and Infrastructure Limited.

Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Morgan, told Parliament yesterday ( February 4, 2025) that the agreement establishes a collaborative and structured framework for the implementation of the Accelerated Bridge Programme.

“Under this framework, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the National Works Agency, Acrow Global Limited and Lagan Aviation and Infrastructure, have aligned efforts to ensure the seamless execution of the project. It entails the installation and upgrading of 54 bridges across the island.  This includes 44 permanent vehicular bridges, 3 permanent pedestrian bridges and 7 emergency use bridges” Minister Morgan explained.

The Minister said the GOJ has recognised the Programme, as a priority project within the Government to Government Framework of Cooperation with the United Kingdom’s Export Finance.

He added that the collaboration allows access to financing mechanisms that will accelerate implementation to ensure cost-effective execution.

“Under this programme, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation is the buyer and project overseer; the Ministry of Finance is the borrower responsible for securing funding; the National Works Agency is the implementing Agency ensuring technical and structural integrity; Lagan is the principal contractor responsible for the execution and Acrow is the specialist bridge supplier ensuring high-quality structures”, he stated.

The Accelerated Bridge Programme is a strategic national effort to enhance connectivity, improve public safety and facilitate economic growth by constructing and rehabilitating key bridges across the island.

Work is scheduled to begin in the Corporate Area this week, under Work Order 1 of the  Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Robert Morgan, gave an update on the Programme to the House of Representatives this afternoon (Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

“We have Everest Drive which started already. Then we’re going to have Bellevue Avenue in Kingston East and Port Royal.  In Kingston Western, we’re starting Bustamante Highway, (and) North Street from King Street to Crab Ground.  In St. Andrew East Rural we’re starting Passion Gardens and Bayview Retreat.  In St. Andrew Eastern, we’re doing Buttercup Drive, (and) Dougherty Drive. In St. Andrew North-Eastern, (we’re doing)  Liguanea Avenue and Richings Avenue;  St Andrew North-Central, Upper Aries and Orange Grove Road”, he stated.

He noted that Work Order 1 will be carried out at a cost of J$1.911 billion and will span 21 constituencies across eight (8) parishes, with a number of rehabilitation projects starting in several constituencies including the Corporate Area.

Minister Morgan said other roads to receive attention under Work Order 1 are located in South-Eastern, Eastern,  East-Central and South Central St. Catherine; North-West and Central Manchester; South-West, South East and North-East St. Elizabeth; Eastern and Western Portland; Central St. Mary; as well as Northern and Southern Trelawny, adding that  “we are actively assessing other additional roads to commence in the coming weeks”.

Work Order 2, he noted will cover 42 additional roads across 21 constituencies and is expected to commence in late February, while Work Order 3 which comprises another 42 roads across 21 additional constituencies, is scheduled to begin in early March.

The Minister stated that in this financial year, work will begin on about 126 critical roadways across Jamaica.

“At the end, all constituencies will get an initial two SPARK roads before the end of the financial year. We expect that by April we will start seeing the completion of our first set of SPARK roads with this tranche and we expect that these three work orders will be completed by June of this year”, he stated.

Minister Morgan stated that to ensure accountability and efficiency, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation will strictly oversee project timelines, contractor performance and quality standards.

He encouraged Members of Parliament and local stakeholders to remain engaged in the monitoring process to ensure that all communities benefit fully from this initiative.

“This is the next chapter of Jamaica’s development. With the SPARK Programme, we are not just fixing roads. We are building pathways of opportunity. This initiative is an investment in the future of our citizens and a demonstration of the Government’s unwavering commitment to national development”, he ended.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Robert Morgan says work is scheduled to begin on 100 roads across the island under the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme before the end of the 2024/25 Financial Year.

Minister Morgan made the announcement during the weekly Post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House yesterday (January 29, 2025), noting that the buildout phase for the SPARK Programme has begun at Harbour Heights in East Kingston and Port Royal.

“By next week we will be announcing 40 roads which will begin immediately all across the island for SPARK and the month after that we will be announcing another 30 roads, that’s 70 and the month after that we will be announcing another 30 roads…So by the end of the financial year, we would have started 100 roads across the island” the Minister announced.

In responding to concerns about the delay in implementation of the programme, Minister Morgan explained that the necessary assessments had to be conducted and proper designs needed to be done.

“We have to do the proper designs, we have to do the proper assessment of the roads.  There are some roads that require land acquisition, there are some roads that require extensive pipework, there are some roads that require realignment” he stated.

The Minister added that many of Jamaica’s roads, required extensive work, having evolved from little more than tracks.

“A lot of us know the history of our roads.  Most of our roads evolved from community tracks where persons moved to particular areas and they built their own roads and somebody came years later and gave them a road without any design. Some of these have flaws that we have to correct, as we had to do on the South Coast Highway Improvement Project”, he explained.

The Minister said by March, roadwork would be underway in every constituency across the island.

“By the middle of this month you will see an activation across about 40 areas within the country where SPARK roads will be implemented”, he ended.

Persons with questions or concerns may engage with the Ministry’s team on social media @asksparkjamaica or visit the website www.sparkjamaica.gov.jm  to learn more about the Programme.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, shares a celebratory moment with recipients and officials during the handing-over ceremony for 36 new housing units in St. Paul’s Lane, Tower Hill, West Central St. Andrew.

36 residents of St. Paul’s Lane receive the keys to their new homes 36 residents in St. Paul’s Lane, Tower Hill, West Central St. Andrew, are the proud recipients of new homes, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ), the National Housing Trust (NHT), and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). The residents, including several who were displaced by a fire which gutted their dwellings two years ago, received the keys to their houses during a handing-over ceremony in the community on Wednesday (December 11, 2024). Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness who is also the Member of Parliament for the area, noted that initially 24 homes should have been built.  However, he stated that following discussions with members of the community, the decision was taken to clear the entire one-and-a-half-acre plot to facilitate the construction of 36 units. “It took some time and convincing and it took some guarantee that we would pay rent for those persons who gave up their structures for new structures that would be built.  In all, we have 36 units…The moment that we broke ground, and we were coming up out of the foundation, the persons who were sceptical, their minds and their outlook immediately changed, and they wanted to be a part of this”, he stated. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the St. Paul’s Lane development will spark a ‘demonstration effect’ for other projects where lands are not readily available for greenfield development. “Once the public sees that this is the policy and it has worked, then we can now move full speed ahead with developing other such communities across Jamaica and in particular, within Kingston and St. Andrew”, he noted. Dr. Holness added that communities across Jamaica have already been identified to replicate the St. Paul’s Lane development model, adding that the NHT, HAJ and JSIF will be tasked to develop a working model that can easily be deployed to these communities to conduct a proper programme of urban renewal. “We want to do this for every single inner-city community in Jamaica.   This is my wish, and this is my vision, and we have proven that it can be done without any issues, any complaints, any conflicts, we have done it.  We have identified the communities. In the next budget there will be an allocation for this urban renewal project”, the Prime Minister stated. Among the facilities in the development are a play area, washing and drying area, parking, sewage, water, electricity and other amenities.

The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), in collaboration with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), tabled amendments to the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act (NRCA) and the Wildlife Protection Act in Parliament yesterday (December 10).

The proposed amendments aim to increase fines, update related custodial sentences and modernise the legal framework for environmental management in Jamaica. The maximum fine for offences under both the NRCA Act and the Wild Life Protection Act has been significantly increased to J$5 million. Furthermore, the amendments introduce distinctions between offences committed by individuals and body corporates, with the latter now subject to judgments in the Circuit Court. This change allows for the imposition of penalties based on the severity of the environmental crime.

Minister without Portfolio in the MEGJC, Hon. Matthew Samuda, stated:

“We are continuing to focus on the full overhaul of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act and the Wildlife Protection Act as well as the repeal and replacement of the Forest Act, which we aim to complete early in the Financial Year 2025/26. These efforts underscore the Government’s continued commitment to strengthening environmental governance and ensuring that offenders face penalties commensurate with the severity of their actions”.

The amendments reflect the Government’s proactive approach to addressing non-compliance with environmental laws. Minister Samuda added:

“The ministry will also be conducting a review of the enforcement capacity of all our environmental management agencies with regulatory authority, including the National Environment and Planning Agency, the Forestry Department, and the Water Resources Authority. This review will ensure a robust enforcement framework to protect our natural resources.”

These updates are part of the Government’s broader strategy to promote sustainable development while fostering a culture of compliance with environmental regulations.

The tabled bill can be found on the Houses of Parliament website at https://japarliament.gov.jm.

Cabinet has approved J$2 billion to undertake emergency road repairs, announced recently by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

This was disclosed today, (Wednesday, December 11, 2024) by Minister with responsibility for Works Hon. Robert Morgan at the weekly Post-Cabinet Press briefing at Jamaica House.

“Cabinet approved that programme on Monday, and we expect contracts to be issued to the contractors before the end of the week, so we can start doing the work since we have seen some signs in some areas that the rains have abated to some extent”, he stated.

Minister Morgan said main roads will be prioritised under the emergency repair programme, adding that he had received numerous calls about roads like Grants Pen, August Town, the Hermitage Road, Papine to Gordon Town and Red Hills, as well as roads in St James, and Hanover, among others.

“The National Works Agency will be using this J$2 billion dollars as efficiently as possible to do quick work in repairing these roads, based on the national emergency”, he noted.

Minister Morgan further explained that the recent rains had not only resulted in more damage to the roads but had delayed the necessary repairs.

“So, the issue is not about finding resources to repair a large portion of the roads that have challenges. The issue was when we did try to repair some of these roads, the rains would have stopped us and we made the decision that we should not try to patch roads in rain, as we will lose the asphalt”.

Turning to the SPARK programme, Minister Morgan elaborated on the breakdown of the expenditure under the programme.

“It is J$20 billion in the first tranche of the J$45 billion allocation, (with) J$40 billion for roads and J$5 billion for water infrastructure. We’re focused on improving connectivity in communities ensuring safe and reliable travel for Jamaicans, which includes not digging up the roads after the roads are fixed to lay water pipes but putting in the pipes while the roads are being fixed. It includes the re-design of roads that have never been designed in the first place.  It includes a comprehensive drainage design for these roads to ensure that they last longer”, he noted.

The programme, he said, also includes a defects liability period where the main contractor is obligated without cost to the Government, to fix any flaw that comes up within a year after the road has been handed over.

The Minister stated that the repairing of roads is about people.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), Mrs. Arlene Williams alongside Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Holness signed the contract for the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).

Contracts signed with CHEC for SPARK Programme Four contracts were signed this morning (December 5, 2024) for the much-anticipated Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme. The contracts which were signed between the Government of Jamaica and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), the successful bidder on the project, paves the way for work to commence on the project. Addressing the signing ceremony at Jamaica House, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, noted that the contracts cover four packages and are valued at over $36.04 billion dollars for the road work, while an additional $2 billion will be spent on pipes and water mains. “Package 1 – Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Thomas; Package 2 St. Catherine and Clarendon; Package 3 Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland and Hanover; Package 4 St James, Trelawny, St Ann, St. Mary and Portland and that would total approximately J$38 billion with J$36 billion applicable to road infrastructure” the Prime Minister explained. He added that the project will be divided into two distinct phases with a local component focusing on community roads, and the other component focusing on main roads. Construction for the project he said, is scheduled to be completed in two years, with an additional year for defects liability, during which the contractor would carry out any repairs due to defects. The National Works Agency, the Prime Minister explained, will be responsible for the management and implementation of all works with the support of engineers, consultants and other technical professionals who will give sufficient oversight to the work of the contractors. The Prime Minister pointed out that the SPARK Programme is not a mere routine road maintenance or patching programme. “The Spark Programme is a capital investment and the difference between regular maintenance and capital investment is that the capital investment creates entirely new value that adds to your GDP.  Patching the roads is a temporary solution for convenience. It is necessary to do it, but it is not a long-term solution to Jamaica’s aged infrastructure. What we really need to do is to make a substantial improvement, creating new value in our road network”, he emphasised. The signing ceremony also saw the launch of a new website, sparkjamaica.gov.jm, which will provide the public with information about the Programme. In making the announcement, Minister with responsibility for Works Hon. Robert Morgan, noted that one important aspect of the new website is a document centre. “It will give the public access to all publicly available documents related to the SPARK Programme.  The contract that we are signing is a public document, so it can go on the website. The roads that will be repaired can go on the website. We will also (eventually) put on the website, all the roads that we have assessed under SPARK, as well as the length of roads in the parishes and several other documents, so that the public will have a very easy access to the information”. Minister Morgan further noted that the website would also contain the governance framework for the SPARK programme, which was approved by the Cabinet and will govern the execution of works and the accountability of stakeholders under the Programme.