Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Robert Morgan says, “the impact of the Governments Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help (REACH) Progamme cannot be questioned”.

Making his Sectoral Presentation in Parliament on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Minister Morgan, who has responsibility for the Works Portfolio said every constituency benefitted from the programme.

The Minister added that out of the $3 billion allotted to the programme, each Member of Parliament had the opportunity to recommend $20 million worth of patching work in their constituency.

“Every single constituency in this country benefitted from the REACH Programme.  The impact of Hurricane Beryl and subsequent events are known throughout Jamaica.  There were cries for help about the deteriorating conditions of our roads. Thankfully, through sound fiscal management, the Government was able to find the resources to launch the $3 billion REACH Programme”.

However, he added that the extraordinary rainfall between July and December last year, prompted additional patching.

“Though the REACH was important, we had unprecedented rain between July and December of last year.  Roads that had reached their end of life began to disintegrate. It is for that reason that Prime Minister, Dr. Andrew Holness announced the REACH Emergency which was a $2 billion programme. All told, we spent approximately $4.5 to $5 billion on Islandwide road patching”, the Minister stated.

Minister Morgan announced that the emergency patching is between 80 and 90 percent complete while the broader $3 billion constituency-based REACH Programme, is 72 percent complete. Both phases are expected to be completed by the end of June.