$34 Million Earmarked for Decentralised Road Maintenance Project

A total of $34 million has been allocated for the Support for Decentralised Road Maintenance Programme within the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing. 

As outlined in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the project addresses road maintenance and institutional capacity through the development of maintenance standards, and an evaluation system for tracking contractors’ performance.

For this fiscal year, targets include: the development of a monitoring and evaluation system; design and implementation of a road emergency attention system; documentation and dissemination of information on the status reports, and on the training of people involved in road maintenance activities; and supervision, monitoring and evaluation of road maintenance-related activities.

Achievements up to March 2012 include engaging consultancy services for the establishment of the Land Transportation Authority.

The project is being financed by the Government of Jamaica and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

By Chris Patterson, JIS Reporter