Cabinet adds $1.5 billion to GO road works as eldercare clinic opens in St. Ann

Cabinet has approved an extra $1.5 billion for the Government’s islandwide GO road rehabilitation programme, which is being stepped up through December 2026, Works Minister Robert Morgan has said.

Morgan said contractors are mobilising and signed contracts are moving into full implementation, with priority for western Jamaica and other corridors needing urgent attention. He linked the fresh outlay to extensive repairs already done after Hurricane Melissa under a $1.6 billion programme, arguing a further push was needed to restore roads at least to their pre-storm condition. Intense works are planned in places including Lucea, Kingston, Tom Redcam Avenue, Arthur Wint Drive, Upper Waterloo Road, West Kings House Road and continued work on the boulevard, aimed at creating pothole-free, safer driving corridors.

With the new school year near, he said main roads used by students, school buses and public transport will also get special attention. The programme covers surface upgrades, targeted resurfacing, local pavement repairs, asphaltic sheeting, and rehabilitation of damaged shoulders and edge breaks. Morgan described it as sustained work, not a short campaign, with SPARK and capital expenditure programmes working together.

Separately, Jamaica’s first Golden Care geriatric clinic was formally opened last week at the Claremont Health Centre in St. Ann under the Ministry of Health and Wellness CARE initiative, with plans to roll out the model elsewhere. Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said care for people 60 and over should become standard practice, covering clinical, psychological, mental and physical needs. About 500 seniors in Claremont and nearby areas will gain access to assessment for chronic illness, memory and mental-health issues, falls and loneliness. Professor the Most Honourable Denise Eldemire-Shearer and the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre are leading the effort, using a World Health Organization 10-minute screening tool piloted in Jamaica. Community health aides will screen patients for clinic appointments while ongoing care continues at other Claremont clinics.

Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Director General Commander Alvin Gayle said the National Disaster Fund Committee is now in place to oversee and manage the National Disaster Fund—an issue flagged in the Auditor General’s recent Hurricane Melissa relief report. He said ODPEM wrote the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service in January seeking a new committee under the Act; Cabinet approved it in May and the panel has begun meeting.

On education, Dr Vanessa Morrison-Leon of the TREND programme told the Education Transformation Oversight Committee’s Year 4 first-quarter briefing at the University of the West Indies Regional Headquarters in St. Andrew that 312 early-childhood teachers have been retained under the HOPE Temporary Trained Teacher Programme. More than 3,300 early-childhood practitioners were trained in priority competencies this quarter, 23 Brain Builder centres were completed (76.7 per cent of the annual target), eight more were approved and 11 applications are being processed.

The Jamaica Defence Force has advised that ceremonial guns will be fired at King’s House during Guard of Honour rehearsals and the parade for Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama’s state visit from July 29 to August 3, tied to Jamaica’s 64th Independence and Emancipation commemorations. Residents near King’s House may hear loud blasts that the JDF says are ceremonial only and pose no public-safety threat.

Government is also advancing climate-resilient redevelopment for Black River, Montego Bay, Falmouth and Port Antonio, including inland civic consolidation and coastal defences in Black River, Freeport and waterfront redesign in Montego Bay, Dragline-centred reorganisation and an inland hospital move in Falmouth, and the US$81-million Port Antonio bypass with cruise, sports and Bound Brook urban-centre works.