The Honourable Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), led a high-level multiagency delegation to the Greater Portmore Ponds in St. Catherine on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The visit follows the recent and concerning discovery of ten (10) deceased crocodiles at the site, an incident that has sparked public outcry and highlighted the need for strengthened environmental monitoring.

The affected facility comprises 9 ponds, of which 3 were taken out of service by the NWC due to an embankment defect. Based on the ongoing investigation, the NWC is currently working on effecting the necessary repairs to bring the ponds back into operation.

The primary objective of the visit was to identify the root causes of the death of the crocodiles and identify measures for implementation to prevent recurrence. These include increased monitoring by the NEPA and installation of additional structures to allow crocodiles to move between ponds when there is a significant reduction in the water levels.

During the tour, Minister Samuda announced plans to reconstruct critical infrastructure to enable the animals to move freely between the ponds. He also emphasised the introduction of new monitoring systems, in collaboration with the NEPA and Hope Zoo, to ensure a rapid response if animals become trapped again.

Minister Samuda further stated that the NWC will soon present a comprehensive maintenance plan for all ponds and specifically, the Portmore community. He has also instructed the NEPA to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the crocodiles, with full findings to be publicly disclosed in the interest of transparency and accountability.

Addressing public concerns regarding enforcement, Minister Samuda reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to upholding environmental laws. He stressed that NEPA has full authority to enforce the NRCA Act and the Wildlife Protection Act, including pursuing prosecutions where negligence or breaches are found, underscoring that no one is above the law.

The MEGJC, in collaboration with its environmental partners, remains dedicated to safeguarding Jamaica’s ecological heritage.

Participating agencies include the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), National Water Commission (NWC), Forestry Department, Senior Officials from the MEGJC, and experts from the Hope Zoo.

Members of the public are reminded that crocodiles are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act and should not be harmed or disturbed. Sightings or incidents should be reported to NEPA at 1-888-991-5005 or to the police at 119.

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Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with responsibility for water, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to improving rural water systems, with key upgrades currently underway in the Mocho Division of Clarendon.

Responding to recent concerns raised about the Goshen Pumping System, Minister Samuda confirmed that the National Water Commission (NWC), in collaboration with Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) and the Office of the Member of Parliament, Robert Nesta Morgan, has been executing a phased and strategic programme to improve water access in Mocho.

Key interventions include:

• New Pump Installation: A new relift pump for the Goshen Pumping Station will be installed by August 2025. In the interim, a temporary pump will be provided to alleviate the current shortfall. When installed in August, the new pump will restore the system’s full operational capacity and stabilise supply to communities to include Goshen, Brixton Hill, White Chapel, Mocho Road, Eden, Bagatelle, and Darlow.
• Eden Water Supply Expansion – Phase Two: This critical phase is progressing steadily, supported directly by the Member of Parliament who has personally facilitated the provision of necessary piping infrastructure to accelerate the project timeline.
• Increased Storage Capacity: RWSL is currently procuring a 10,000-gallon storage tank to be installed in the area, improving reliability and resilience across the network.

Minister Samuda also acknowledged the persistent advocacy and hands-on involvement of Member of Parliament Morgan, noting that he has been a strong and consistent voice for the people of Mocho, working closely with the NWC and other agencies to find lasting solutions to the community’s water challenges.

In addition, Minister Samuda highlighted the Government’s recent emergency measures.

“Last year, over $4 million was spent in trucking water to affected communities, with Mocho receiving a significant portion of that support. In response to ongoing needs, we have allocated an additional $2 million to assist residents. Furthermore, over 30 residents benefited from the water tank programme last year, and our plans are on track for 45 residents to benefit this year”, he said.

Minister Samuda continued, “This Government, working through the relevant agencies, has been actively implementing real solutions to improve water access in Mocho. We care about the people of Mocho and are responding with planning, investment, and execution. The people of Mocho deserve sustainable, reliable water, and that is exactly what we are working to deliver”.

The Ministry remains committed to ensuring rural communities across Jamaica benefit from improved water access through smart investment, strong partnerships, and decisive leadership.

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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.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says this year, the Government will invest billions in water projects this year, to support the work of the island’s major water provider, the National Water Commission (NWC).

While Dr. Holness, did not disclose the exact expenditure, noting that the announcement would be made during his Budget Debate Presentation, he stated that the Government will “step up to the plate” and put “a lot of money” into water projects.  He added that the objective of the NWC is to increase coverage for potable water by expanding their utility footprint from 78% to 85%.

“Already the NWC has over J$7.3 billion under contract, meaning they have gone through project development, they have gone through procurement and now they have signed the contracts with the various contractors to execute. They are now waiting on the budget to be read and the warrant to be issued”, he explained.

Dr. Holness spoke last Friday (February 7, 2025), at the groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 2 of the Whitehall to Newmarket Water Supply Project in North West St. Elizabeth.

The Prime Minister further noted that the NWC already has J$2.9 billion worth of works in procurement, in addition to the $7.3 billion dollars.

Dr. Holness reiterated that under the Shared Prosperity to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme, approximately J$2.5 billion will be spent on water infrastructure and Rural Water Supply Limited will expend J$1 billion on small water projects across Jamaica

He said other Government Agencies would also be expending significant sums to improve the water infrastructure across the island.  They include the National Housing Trust, which will be spending close to J$1billion to improve the infrastructure of existing housing developments and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) will set aside significant amounts for water projects in communities across Jamaica.

The $342 million While Hall to New Market Water Project will serve approximately 8,000 residents of Whitehall, Lewisville and Newmarket, who relied primarily on rainwater harvesting for many years, due to the lack of NWC infrastructure in the area.

Meanwhile, the Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, outlined the scope of work on the project.

“The project very simply will involve infrastructure work at the well in the community; installation of 2 major relift stations; installation of 3 major supply tanks; and some pipe works to connect the pipes done under the MIDP (Major Infrastructure Development Programme) between 2018 and 2020, with the installation of a further one and a half kilometers of six-inch pipes” the Minister explained.

Minister Samuda also took the opportunity to provide an update on the NWC Amnesty announced in November last year, noting that to date, over 1,300 customers who did not have water have now been reconnected.  This, he said, translated into a J$156 million write off.

The Minister added that a further 8,438 customers will be reconnected this month.

“With the other 8,000 plus customers that are awaiting, we are giving back to our citizens a further J$500 million plus. So, your government is investing to show that it cares. It is investing to ensure that when we turn on the pipes, there is water in them and this community of Newmarket cannot be left behind and we are happy to start the project today”, he ended.

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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.

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 in Parliament 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.

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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.

The water woes of 3,500 residents of Hampshire and Riversdale in North East St. Catherine, will soon be relegated to the past, following the groundbreaking for Phase 1 of the J$330 million Hampshire/Riversdale Water Supply Project.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, who addressed the groundbreaking ceremony in Riversdale yesterday (January 29, 2025),  noted that J$60 million will be expended on Phase 1,  which is expected to last four months.

“This is a clear signal to you… that work begins now, and we are sequencing our work to ensure that there is no break between the particular phases”, he said.

The water supply to the community had been unreliable for several years as the former source had dried up.  A new source, the Hamwalk/Redwood  Water Supply System will be used to supply Riversdale/Hampshire, and a separate pipeline will be run from that source to interconnect with the existing pipeline into the community.

The project will include the installation of a galvanized iron and PVC transmission pipeline; a PVC distribution pipeline; a 30,000-gallon reinforced concrete sump; a 100,000-gallon bolted steel storage tank and the installation of a solar (two-way power hybrid) pumping system.

In the meantime, Minister Samuda highlighted other investments to be made in the water sector.

“Rural Water will be expending close to J$ 1 billion a year for the next three years, on small rural water systems in order to connect residents in these areas who are outside of the utility footprint.  Rural Water, this calendar year, will commence the long-awaited Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) project which will see an unprecedented J$6 billion invested into 5 major rural water systems”, he stated.

The National Works Agency, he said, is also investing J$5 billion in partnership with the National Water Commission (NWC), to relay water pipes in effecting the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme.  Meanwhile, the National Housing Trust (NHT) will be investing several billion dollars into the water and other infrastructure networks of several of the older communities in Jamaica, while the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, over the next three years, will invest more than J$3 billion in water systems.

Turning to the NWC, Minister Samuda said the primary water provider is midway through J$4 billion of investments and this year, will undertake two of the largest investments in the country’s history namely, the US$92 million Rio Cobre Water System which will benefit citizens from Spanish Town to Kingston and St. Andrew,  as well as the Western Water Resilience Programme.

“We expect to invest some J$15 billion over the next 18 months in that major pipeline from Martha Brae all the way to St. James, and from the Great River all the way to Western Westmoreland and all the communities along that main will benefit”

Minister Samuda indicated that all of the projects are fully funded, without debt being incurred by the country.

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Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has announced that the Government will be allocating J$315 million, to assist the most vulnerable householders across the island,  who were impacted by heavy rainfall between July and December 2024 and who are unable to undertake repairs to their homes by themselves.

“Despite distributing almost 14,000 Hurricane Beryl Recovery Grants, we know that there are many households across Jamaica that were also impacted by the heavy rainfall, due to the unusual weather patterns between July and December. The Government will be allocating J$315 million, or J$5 million per constituency, to assist the most vulnerable cases in communities across Jamaica”.

The Prime Minister, while speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (January 28, 2025), said “While the amounts to be recommended for each beneficiary are at the discretion of the Members of Parliament, the grants will be in the range of $70,000 to $100,000.   This he added, would allow householders to make meaningful improvements to roofs, windows and side boarding and would ensure that more Jamaican shelters can withstand the next heavy rainfall, tropical depression or hurricane”.

He further noted that persons who are already beneficiaries of the Hurricane Relief Grant will not be able to benefit from this allocation, adding that checks will be made to ensure that there are no duplications of allocations across the programmes.

Prime Minister Holness further noted that where challenges exist in identifying registered hardware stores to provide the goods needed for repairs, that are close to the household in need, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) through its National Spatial Data Management Branch (NSDMB) has mapped every registered hardware and haberdashery across the island from which to select.

“This comprehensive map,  will not only provide Members of Parliament with a complete list of all the hardware stores in their constituency,  but the data has also been spatially represented so you can see where the hardware store is, relative to the area of need. This will ensure that materials can be sourced locally, reducing transportation costs and improving the efficiency of the programme”, he expounded.

The Prime Minister said another challenge is that of insufficient staffing, which slows down the approval of grants, as each grant has to be specifically assessed, which requires the deployment of several persons to examine structures.

“We will be leveraging the Assessment Staff of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the Urban Renewal Programme and the other Units in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation to assist in the assessment process. We will not be able to assess every beneficiary and so what we will be doing is using representative samples and risk analysis to ensure that we can, very quickly disburse the benefits”.

Dr. Holness urged all Members of Parliament to work closely with their constituents to identify those households that are most in need of assistance, adding that “It is crucial that this programme is effective and impactful in ensuring the long-term resilience of our shelters, particularly roofs”.

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