Local Government Minister Desmond Mckenzie says majority of Jamaicans agree with implementation of ORA

Local Government Minister, Desmond Mckenzie says the majority of Jamaicans agree with the implementation of the One Road Authority (ORA).

He made the remark during the Kingston and St. Andrew Governance Conference in the corporate area on Wednesday.

The Government is establishing ORA, an executive agency designed to unify the management, maintenance and standards of the over 27,000 kilometres of roads, across the island.

It aims to eliminate fragmented responsibility among the national works agency, municipal corporations and other agencies, ensuring consistent quality and improved accountability.

Since ORA was announced there have been concerns that the agency would only provide a structural change and not a direct injection of funds.

However, the Government has maintained that the move will have positive outcomes.

Doubling down on that stance, Mr. Mckenzie pointed to the survey being conducted by the Social Development Commission (SDC) regarding citizen’s views on the ORA.

He said the findings have so far been generally positive.

Mr. Mckenzie said the SDC is also conducting a survey about the nation’s market spaces to see how best they can be improved.