Member of Parliament for South East St. Ann, Dr. Kenneth Russell, is demanding immediate and decisive action in response to the rapid deterioration of road conditions across the constituency, warning that the situation has reached a critical and unacceptable level.

“Like the residents, I am deeply troubled by the worsening state of the road network. It has become hazardous and is placing motorists, pedestrians, and entire communities at risk. The conditions our people are forced to endure are downright disrespectful and demeaning,” Dr. Russell said.

Dr. Russell noted that with approximately 225 km, South East St. Ann has the most NWA-managed roads in the country.

By the NWA’s own conservative estimate, approximately 80% of these roads require rehabilitation. Yet, there is no sustained programme or funding committed. He said the SPARK programme addresses only a small fraction of the roads in need within the constituency, and implementation continues to lag.

The estimated cost of the nine priority SPARK roads stands at $2.3 billion, but only $315 million has been allocated for three roads. To date, work has begun on only one road. To underscore serious delays in SPARK execution, at least six (6) communicated start dates for rehabilitation of the Johnny Spring Road have been missed.

“The gap between announcements and performance is the daily pain our people endure just to use these roads,” he said.

“Productivity is being undermined. Farmers are struggling to move goods. Workers are facing longer, more costly commutes. Public transportation is being disrupted. The cost to road users continues to rise—financially and in terms of the toll it takes on their bodies.”

He further highlighted that in some areas, the situation has already reached a crisis point.

“People struggle to move in communities such as Barrett Hall, Dunnsville, White Hall, and Prickly Pole, where access is severely compromised. Travel through Higgin Town towards St. Ann’s Bay Hospital and access to Golden Grove Primary School now pose serious risks,” Dr Russell noted.

Immediate safety risks also persist, particularly with breakaways and structural failures in Blackstonedge, Alderton, and along the roadway to Nine Miles, which continue to endanger lives and livelihoods.

Dr Russell is therefore calling on the Minister of Works, the Honourable Robert Morgan, MP, for:

• Immediate adherence to timelines for all SPARK-related works
• A significant acceleration in the deployment of allocated funds, ensuring that resources translate into visible progress
• Emergency interventions, including patching, stabilisation, and repair of critical breakaways
• Increased budgetary commitment to address the broader network beyond SPARK allocations
• Transparency and predictability in how road repair resources are allocated

“The people of South East St. Ann cannot continue to wait while conditions worsen, threatening lives and livelihoods,” Dr Russell stated.