NWA restructuring advancing, says Holness

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness says efforts to restructure the National Works Agency (NWA) are well advanced, with input from the World Bank to guide the transformation.

Responding to a question from The Gleaner while touring the $550-million Resilience Park project in Portmore yesterday, Holness disclosed that a meeting was held on Thursday with consultants from the international financial institution.

"In fact, just yesterday (Thursday), we had a meeting with a group of consultants from the World Bank, and they will be advising the government on a new model for managing all our roads," he stated.

The Prime Minister announced plans to revamp the NWA last year, citing concerns that the agency was not fully equipped to handle the range of tasks assigned to it.

The NWA was originally established to replace the former Public Works Department (PWD) and to provide engineering advice to the government. However, Holness has indicated that a new approach is necessary to improve the management of Jamaica’s road infrastructure.

The government has not yet provided a timeline for the completion of the restructuring, but the involvement of the World Bank suggests that significant changes are on the horizon.

- Ruddy Mathison

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