Works Minister Morgan defends One Road Authority plan, urges fact-based talks on road reform

Kingston, Jamaica – The Minister with responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan, MP, says unease over the proposed One Road Authority should be handled with accurate information, wide consultation, and a straight picture of how roadway upkeep is organised today.

Addressing anxiety about how the Authority might affect municipal corporations, Mr Morgan said the new body does not exist yet and that dialogue with important partners—including local-government representatives—is still under way.

“The One Road Authority is still in development. It has not yet been established. That is why consultations are being held. These engagements provide the opportunity for questions to be asked and concerns to be raised. The consultations will help shape the final framework,” Minister Morgan said.

He said Cabinet also sees how vital councils are to looking after Jamaica’s road grid, and any debate on who fixes what must recognise money already channelled to municipal bodies for that purpose.

“Municipal corporations are not outside the road-management system. They receive dedicated resources through the Parochial Revenue Fund for local road maintenance and related works. Therefore, when we discuss the state of municipal roads, we must also discuss maintenance planning, prioritisation, technical capacity, and how existing resources are being programmed,” the Minister said.

Mr Morgan pointed out that the National Works Agency has kept up large-scale patching and repair work in Kingston and St Andrew, including routes where residents struggle to tell which organisation is in charge.

“This is one of the reasons the One Road Authority is being pursued. The current system has too much fragmentation. Citizens are often unsure whether a road falls under the NWA, a municipal corporation, or another entity. That lack of clarity weakens accountability and delays effective response,” he said.

He stressed that the plan is not meant to belittle municipal corporations or cast aside community know-how. He said the aim is a firmer island-wide approach to how roads are classified, the standards they meet, how assets are tracked, what data are gathered, how upkeep is scheduled, and how performance is watched.

“The objective is not to diminish local government. The objective is to ensure that every road authority, whether national or local, operates within a clearer, better-coordinated, and more accountable system. Jamaica cannot continue with a structure where responsibility is blurred and the public is left frustrated,” Minister Morgan said.

He accepted that worries about finance, repair timetables, and engineering help are fair points and will stay on the table during consultations. Still, he warned against talk that paints councils as having no present duty or cash base.

“The Jamaican people deserve a mature discussion. Resources matter, but systems matter as well. Funding must be matched by clear standards, accurate data, proper prioritisation, and accountability for results,” the Minister said.

Mr Morgan said ministers and officials will keep meeting mayors, councillors, municipal corporations, the NWA, and other actors while the Authority’s blueprint is refined.

“The One Road Authority is about moving from confusion to coordination, from fragmented responsibility to clearer accountability, and from short-term reaction to long-term road asset management. That is the reform Jamaica needs,” Minister Morgan said.