Kingston, Jamaica, 20 June 2026
Every road in Jamaica is to be logged in a national database, with details of who owns it and what condition it is in, under plans for the new One Road Authority.
Robert Nesta Morgan, the Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with responsibility for Works, announced the Jamaica Road Register during his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on 17 June.
Citizens to report problems by app
Alongside the register, members of the public will be able to use an app to send in photographs of road conditions, including damage caused by others, so that the authorities can respond. The minister said a supporting government website is being built with the National Spatial Data Management Branch, and is expected to go live shortly. He presented it as a way for people to take a more active part in looking after the roads they use every day.
One agency, many roles
The One Road Authority has already been approved by Cabinet. Mr Morgan said it will both carry out national road projects and act as regulator for the entire network. It is also meant to streamline work now spread across bodies such as the National Road Operating and Constructing Company Limited, the Toll Authority and the National Works Agency.
The minister sought to reassure local representatives that the change is not designed to sideline them. Parish-level responsiveness and the knowledge of MPs, councillors, municipal authorities and communities will still count, he said. The goal, in his words, is “a clearer, stronger, more coordinated national framework” for planning and standards.
What it means for residents and property owners
Confusion over which agency is responsible for a particular road has long frustrated residents trying to get potholes fixed or drains cleared. A single public record of ownership and condition could make it easier to know who to contact, and to track whether complaints are acted on.
For buyers and homeowners, road access and quality often shape both daily life and property values. A searchable register may also give house hunters a clearer picture of the roads serving a community before they commit to a purchase.
Follow Jamaica Homes on Youtube @jamaicahomes and Instagram @jamaica_homes and on Facebook @jamaicahomesnews Send us a message or email us at onlinefeedback@jamaica-homes.com or editor@jamaica-homes.com
Visit our YouTube Community ↗