Morgan: Proposed One Road Authority still in talks as Government maps clearer road roles

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister with responsibility for Works Robert Nesta Morgan has urged that worries tied to a proposed One Road Authority be tackled with verified information, open dialogue, and a firm grasp of how road upkeep is organised at present.

In a press release issued on Thursday, he underlined that the entity has not been set up and that outreach to principal actors, including figures from local government, is still active.

"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," Morgan said.

He said the Government recognises councils as vital partners in stewarding Jamaica's road network, and that any review of who fixes what must recognise ring-fenced cash already flowing to municipal corporations.

"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.

Morgan also observed that the National Works Agency (NWA) has pressed ahead with sizeable repair work in Kingston and St Andrew, at times along routes where people struggle to see which agency holds the file.

"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 blueprint is not aimed at sidelining municipal corporations or erasing grassroots know-how. Instead, he said, it should tighten a countrywide approach to how routes are classified, how benchmarks are set, how assets are tracked, how figures are kept reliable, how maintenance 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," Morgan said.

He acknowledged that queries on budgets, how often streets are serviced, and engineering backup are valid and will stay on the agenda for the consultation rounds. All the same, he asked that public remarks not imply councils lack a present-day mandate or financing.

"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," Morgan said.

The minister said the Government will continue to engage mayors, councillors, municipal corporations, the National Works Agency, and other stakeholders as the proposed authority is developed.

"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," Morgan said.