Works Minister Robert Morgan says One Road Authority has not yet been established and consultations continue

Minister with responsibility for Works, Robert Nesta Morgan says the aim of the Government’s proposed One Road Authority (ORA) is not to diminish local government’s responsibility for parochial roads.

He said the objective is to ensure that every road – whether local or national – operates within a better-coordinated and more accountable system.

The Minister was responding to concerns about the impact of the ORA on municipal corporations.

Mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby told councillors at Tuesday’s meeting of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) that its not clear how the ORA will address, how municipal corporations gain increased funding to fix roads under their jurisdiction.

In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Morgan noted that the authority is still in the developmental stages and consultations will continue with all mayors.

He added that the Government recognises the importance of local government in the management of Jamaica’s road network.

In relation to roads in Kingston and St. Andrew, Mr. Morgan informed that the National Works Agency continues to undertake significant road-repair interventions amid concerns over who has responsibility for such roads.

He said the ORA is needed to create a stronger national framework for road classification.