The Government of Jamaica is investing $16 billion through the special Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Programme, to improve road infrastructure in the Kingston Metropolitan Area including Portmore.

Making his presentation to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 3, Minister Morgan said the programme will benefit approximately 1.2 million Jamaicans.

“It will include roads, drainage, water, sewage, traffic management, as well as ensuring future broad-band connectivity, which are significant deliverables in the programme.  This ‘ready’ pillar of our framework ensures that infrastructure projects are being built on a strong foundation”, he noted.

Minister Morgan said the Grange Lane Upgrade, which is valued at $925 million is now 98 percent complete, with the Braeton and Hellshire Main Road Dualisation Project set to commence this month.

Other CAPEX projects, he added, are in the implementation phase including East Kings House Road, Lady Musgrave, the widening of the Sandy Gully Bridge, a new entrance to Portmore and the expanded Arthur Wint Drive.

Minister Morgan further noted that the Arthur Wint project, which was originally a smaller scale dualisation project, has now been expanded from Arthur Wint Drive and Tom Redcam Avenue, to Camp Road.

“The Camp Road section has been added, as it makes strategic sense to do so at this time.   The institutional coordination within our ready framework has led to this expansion, incorporating sewage and additional water line infrastructure, and ensures more significant benefits for residents, businesses and developers”, he stated.

Minister Morgan added that the remaining CAPEX projects, which will commence in the third quarter of this financial year are being carefully scheduled to minimise disruptions.

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The Government of Jamaica (GoJ) continues to make significant strides in ensuring that Jamaicans have access to the island’s beautiful beaches, balancing public access with responsible development and the protection of private property rights.

Speaking in Parliament during the 2025/26 Sectoral Debate, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the GoJ to improving and preserving beach access for all citizens.

“The matter of beach access continues to be front and centre, especially in this era of renewed public interest and dialogue. Through the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), with broad-based consultation including the private sector, civil society, and public commentary, the Government has completed the Beach Access Policy, which is now before Cabinet for final review”, Minister Samuda said.

The Minister explained that the review is ongoing, with special attention paid to legal matters currently before the courts. The policy, he said, will ensure a fair balance between the rights and expectations of Jamaican citizens and the interests of local and international investors, while remaining fully compliant with Jamaican law.

Beyond policy, Minister Samuda emphasised that real impact requires investment and coordinated development efforts. He highlighted the work of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), the Urban Development Corporation, and the Fisheries Division in this regard.

“We are proud of developments such as the Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, and we are even prouder to announce the upcoming Negril Public Beach Park. This new facility will provide access to citizens, an improved craft market, and an entertainment zone”, he said.

In the current fiscal year, the TEF is also set to begin development on three additional upgraded beach parks:

1. Priory Bathing Beach (Fantasy Beach), St Ann
2. Success Beach, St James
3. Paggee Beach, St Mary

“Let there be no doubt that this Administration is building quality Beach Parks for Jamaicans to access freely”, Minister Samuda added.

In addition to new developments, the Government has also strengthened its regulatory framework to preserve access points long used by local communities. Minister Samuda pointed to a recent hotel development in Trelawny, where specific provisions were made to maintain public access to the beach via a designated pathway, demonstrating that it is possible to protect citizen rights without violating private property boundaries.

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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, has announced that several existing sewage plants will be expanded, restored, or relocated, based on the level of environmental risks they pose.

Making his maiden contribution as a Member of Parliament to the 2025 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 27, Minister Samuda noted that work on the various sewage plants is planned to begin this year.

“We expect to expand and improve the capacity of the Soapberry Treatment Plant, doubling its capacity and moving it to tertiary treatment. The Member of Parliament for West Kingston will be happy when we get into the line plans for the improvements in West Kingston, which are 30 years overdue. We have also committed and have started the process to facilitate the relocation of not just the Negril Sewage Plant, but we intend to relocate the Harbour View Sewage Plant for the citizens of Harbour View, and we’re well advanced in the design process”, he announced.

The Minister added that commitments have also been given regarding the relocation of the Long Mountain Sewage Lines, adding that the Portmore Sewage Ponds and the Bogue Sewage Ponds in St. James would also receive attention.

“We’ve committed to the improvement, restoration, and significant increase in allocations to the maintenance of the Portmore Sewage Ponds. We are in the planning process to accelerate the movement of the Bogue Sewage Ponds, which should never have been there. That will take some more time, but we are advancing the planning”.

Minister Samuda explained that sewage is amongst the worst environmental issues that the nation faces, adding that the Government is taking the risk seriously and will make the necessary investments to remove the stated areas from the high-risk list.

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Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, says, “final work to bring Jamaica’s Radar System online for the Meteorological (MET) Service is ongoing and should be completed this very week”.

Addressing the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, during his Sectoral Debate presentation, Minister Samuda said this would ensure that the MET service has the necessary tools for the upcoming Atlantic Hurricane Season and is not solely dependent on external sources.

The Minister added that changing weather patterns caused by climate change require Jamaica to increase its capacity to forecast weather systems.

“As you may be able to tell, our weather patterns are fluctuating more drastically between periods of drought and heavy rainfall than we have seen in recent times, and we believe climate change is at the heart of this fluctuation”, Minister Samuda noted.

Minister Samuda announced that during this fiscal year, the Government will increase efforts to modernise the MET Service, digitising its operations to provide real-time measurements and reports.

He added that “We expect to have significantly improved our equipment capacity to monitor and predict these systems because of the investments we are making in the Meteorological Service”.

Turning to weather patterns, Minister Samuda said Jamaica is currently experiencing drier conditions, with the MET Service predicting that these conditions will persist, mainly across eastern and central parishes through to July as rainfall probabilities fall below normal.

However, he noted that from August to October, normal rainfall is more likely, especially in central and some western parishes, with no impactful drought conditions likely.

 

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The Government of Jamaica, through the National Water Commission (NWC), officially broke ground today (May 27, 2025) for the J$1 billion Ferry to Rock Pond Pipeline Project.

The project runs across three constituencies and is set to bring much-needed water relief to several communities in Red Hills and surrounding areas. The NWC is spearheading this transformative initiative and forms part of the Government’s continued efforts to expand and modernise Jamaica’s water distribution network.

The project includes the installation of approximately 7,220 metres of 12-inch ductile iron pipeline from the Ferry Pump Station to Topaz Crescent.

It also involves the construction of two relift stations, two 50,000-gallon storage tanks, and the installation of duty and standby pumps. Rehabilitation works will also be carried out at the existing Ferry compound to improve operational efficiency.

In his address, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, noted that many of the projects for which ground was recently broken, including the Ferry to Rock Pond Project, are not new, with several being on the books for years.   However, he noted, the finances to implement them were lacking.

“For us to do the actual capital investment, lay the pipe, put in the pump, develop the water source, you have to be able to invest, and to maintain it, you have to have the funds for the recurrent expenditure. What happened to Jamaica over the last four or five decades is that we simply did not have the capital budget or the recurrent budget”, Prime Minister Holness said.

Once completed, the project will directly benefit residents across the communities of Red Hills, Belvedere, Rock Pond, Cyprus Hall, Mosquito Valley, Plantation Heights, Brentwood, Stanmore, Tom Cringle, and Sterling Castle. These communities have long faced water supply challenges, particularly during the dry season.

The Ferry to Rock Pond Pipeline Project is aligned with the Government’s broader commitment to ensuring equitable access to basic infrastructure, especially in rapidly growing and underserved areas.

Prime Minister Holness also led the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Forest Hill Solar PV Project. The total project cost of J$81,500,000 covers materials, labour, and associated expenses.

It was completed on April 16 and involved the installation of a 350-kW grid-tied solar photovoltaic system, designed to supplement the facility’s energy requirements and reduce dependence on the national electricity grid.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda, noted that the energy investment is a critical component of not only this project, but several others to come, as it will not only build stability in the price of energy, but also the supply.

“Much of Jamaica lives in the hilly interior of the island, and we must pump from surface water sources up these hills, which requires triple-phase power.  Much of the network is the old-style English pumps that use up a lot of electricity.  So, this sort of investment in a 350-kilowatt grid-tide solar system,  for some J$81.5 million, creates the sort of resilience for the 26,000 residents who will benefit from the pipeline that is to come”, he stated.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Robert Morgan is reassuring residents that the Montego Bay Perimeter Road is not intended to bypass communities in Montego Bay but will instead, provide a more efficient travel experience for road users.

The Minister was speaking to the press and stakeholders during a tour of the Montego Bay Perimeter Road on May 8, 2025, to assess the progress of the project.

“There was a perception in the beginning that [the road was] bypassing Montego Bay, so a lot of persons are happy when they see the design… You have the Perimeter [Road] connecting to various other communities, so the people of Montego Bay don’t feel as if we are cutting them out,” Minister Morgan stated.

Minister Morgan was joined on the tour by Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, Member of Parliament for North West St. James, and Stephen Edwards, Managing Director of the National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC) and his team.

Mr. Edwards echoed the Minister’s assurance, adding that the highway will make it easier to access major surrounding communities such as Cornwall Courts, Irwin and Bogue.

“There will be a new access route to the community of Cornwall Courts through the diamond [shaped] interchange. There is also provision for the roadway to be expanded southwards to provide access to future developments,” Mr. Edwards stated.

He noted that the design of the interchange provides great utility to Cornwall Courts and other communities and that pavement works will be undertaken soon.

 

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Approximately 650 households across several communities in the St. Andrew West Rural constituency are now benefitting from improved access to water following the commissioning of the $47 million Mount Prospect (Mount Airy) Water Tank Replacement Project.

The project was officially commissioned on Wednesday, May 8, by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda.

“This is a milestone that acknowledges that the [National] Water Commission, which you own as citizens of Jamaica, has invested J$47 million into improved water supply for you. It is your government investing in your comfort, quality of life, and water supply, for that, we are thankful”, Minister Samuda said.

He continued: “This 50,000-gallon steel bolted drum is not a small piece of infrastructure. It is a large investment to facilitate increased comfort and population, and we expect it to provide a service for you for close to 30 years… But this is not a unique commitment. It is one of close to 100 projects currently being undertaken by your government, through the Rural Water Supply Limited and the NWC”.

Communities benefitting from the project include Mount Prospect, New Garden, Golden Spring, Mount Pleasant, Mount Friendship, Langley, Iron River, Mount Horeb, Mount Zion, Brandon Hill, and Mount James.

The project was completed in two phases. Phase 1 involved replacing an aged 10,000-gallon tank with a 50,000-gallon bolted steel tank. Phase 2 upgraded the existing 2-inch and 3-inch pipelines to 4-inch pipelines to significantly improve water flow and distribution.

Minister Samuda underscored the historic scale of government investment in the nation’s water infrastructure.

“Today’s commissioning is evidence of the Government’s commitment to rural communities and expanding the utility’s footprint across the length and breadth of the country. In addition, we’re spending 800 million through Rural Water Supply Limited to invest in 63 plus systems for small communities just like this”, he said.

Member of Parliament for St. Andrew West Rural, the Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, welcomed the development and praised the Ministry and the NWC for delivering on their promise.

“I’m pleased that this is now a reality. I remember seeing elderly persons and children in Mount Friendship carrying water on their heads. This tank is a major improvement. Lime Edge will also see new connections soon as NWC starts work this week. I thank Minister Samuda and the NWC team for their commitment and responsiveness”, she said.

The Mount Prospect Water Tank Replacement Project is part of the government’s broader efforts to expand and modernise rural water infrastructure across the island.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Robert Morgan, says the Montego Bay Perimeter Road will significantly improve the lives of residents by easing traffic, creating jobs, and unlocking new business opportunities.

“This road is here to make life easier for the people of western Jamaica. It will improve traffic flow, boost commerce, and connect communities from Trelawny and St. Ann to Hanover and Westmoreland,” said Minister Morgan during a tour of the project today (May 8, 2025).

He was joined by Member of Parliament for North West St. James, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, and National Road Operating and Constructing Company (NROCC) Managing Director, Stephen Edwards. Dr. Chang noted that businesses are already exploring opportunities along the corridor and emphasised that the road carries critical utilities to support future development.

Minister Morgan highlighted the involvement of local workers and the transfer of skills on the project. “Most of the workers are Jamaican, and many will leave with HEART/NSTA certification, opening doors for future employment both locally and abroad.”

The J$55.6 billion project includes the Montego Bay and Long Hill bypasses, upgrades to Barnett Street and West Green Avenue, and a major drainage study. It is funded by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and NROCC.

“This project is not just about infrastructure, it’s about empowering the people and building communities,” Minister Morgan said.
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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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