Member of Parliament for East Central, St. Catherine Alando Terrelonge, has identified several roads to be repaired in his constituency under the $45 billion Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme.

The first phase will target key roads in communities such as Dover Avenue, Queens Avenue, Walkers Avenue in Gregory Park; Power Avenue, Myers Town, and Lime Tree Crescent in Newland; Comet Close in Watson Grove; Ransford Close in Cedar Grove; Jasmine Close and Daisy Close in Hamilton Gardens; and the entrance and parking lots to the scheme in Caymanas Gardens Site A.

Terrelonge said work is expected to commence early next year on the first phase of the programme.

“I will keep my constituents updated on additional roads that will be included in the next developmental phase. The SPARK Programme is not only empowering but historic, as it demonstrates the value of direct community involvement in decision-making and shows the immense power of a united constituency,” Terrelonge said.

Additionally, he noted that complementing the SPARK Programme is the REACH Road Rehabilitation Programme, which is being launched in two phases.

“The first, valued at $10 million, will see repairs being carried out to Portmore Villa Drive, Shields Drive, and Mitchell Drive in the community of Portmore Villa. The second phase, also valued at $10 million, focuses on road improvements to Lewis Avenue and Peace Avenue in the community of Newland. The long-awaited repairs to Anglin Avenue will also commence as soon as the NWC has completed laying water pipes in the area this month,” Terrelonge said.

“Mr Speaker, the significance of the SPARK and Reach programmes to Jamaica’s infrastructure development is historic and cannot be overstated. The people of East Central and Jamaica can be proud of a government that remains steadfast in its commitment to build out a first-class road network for its citizens. Never before, Madam Speaker, has Jamaica seen such a government in action as one led by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness. A government that truly cares about human capital and infrastructure development.

By implementing sound economic policies that have led to successive quarters of economic growth and stability, including the aforementioned reduction in our debt, we now live in a new Jamaica, where the government of the people can fully fund a multibillion-dollar island-wide road repair and maintenance Spark Programme from the surplus of sound financial management, which is a hallmark of this Andrew Holness-led administration,” he added.

Additionally, major upgrades to infrastructure in Caymanas Gardens under the First 100 Programme will begin in 2025.

“Following extensive consultations with the National Housing Trust (NHT) and the National Works Agency (NWA) in October, the communities of Caymanas Gardens Site A and Site D will benefit from infrastructure upgrades under the NHT’s First 100 Programme. Over 30 roads are set for improvement, including Titania Avenue, Harlequin Avenue, Sunnydean Avenue, Kandahar Avenue, and Obrian Avenue in Site A, as well as Parking Bays, Off Caymanas Drive, Law Maker Avenue, Robuck Avenue, and Eurika Avenue in Site D. These enhancements are expected to begin in the first half of 2025 and will greatly improve accessibility and quality of life for residents after more than 60 years,” Terrelonge noted.

He gave the update during his contribution to the state of the constituency debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 12.