14 / 44
•
www.jamaica-gleaner.com• gleanerjamaica • jamaicagleaner •
ADVERTISEMENT
THE GLEANER, THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017
F2
THE NEW MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND MINING
SUMMARY OF MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
MARCH 1, 2016 – DECEMBER 31, 2016
Following the General Elections of February 25, 2016, the new Ministry of Transport and Mining was established. The Works and Housing
portfolios were transferred to The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. Many questioned the wisdom of the prime minister in
combining Mining with Transport. They seem so far-fetched in their core activities. The job was given to Lester ʻMikeʼ Henry to oversee the
transition and to welcome with open arms the Mines and Geology Division, along with entities such as the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) and the
Jamaica Bauxite Mining (JBM). He always quipped at meetings that he is an “old man in a hurry”. But, equally important, that his mantra is the
1,3,5,7 formula. In the first year, you inherit and analyse what you inherit, in year three, you implement, and in year five you experience growth
and by year seven, prosperity is in full flight.
It was therefore not surprising that as the man responsible for policy, he hit the ground running with a team of advisors and technocrats from the
Ministry who guided his efforts. Today, we can all look back with pride at the achievements after year one, as we continue to formulate and
implement policies aimed at achieving growth and development.
LAND TRANSPORT MODERNISATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME
REVISION OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACT
The Road Traffic Act and Regulations, 1938, are being repealed and replaced by a new Act. They have gone through several reviews and updates
based on recommendations at the different stages of their review. Some of the changes made at the level of the Senate (under the previous
administration) have been incorporated into the Bill.
The Bill was reviewed by the new Legislation Committee, approved by Cabinet for it to be re-tabled in the Houses of Parliament. On August 20,
2016, The Bill was tabled in the Houses of Parliament by Minister Henry, who subsequently opened the debate on August 28, 2016. Six members
of parliament have so far spoken on the Bill. Additional amendments were suggested and are being made by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel
(CPC).
The Ministry is awaiting the submission of the draft amendments from the CPC. After which, Minister Henry will move the amendments on the
floor before closing the debate.
The overhaul of the Road Traffic Act and its companion Regulations and other Acts to which it refers will include provisions aimed at improving
road safety; regulating vehicle laden weights; regulating the operation of modified vehicles; and simplifying the language of the Act, among
other things.
Modernisation of the Island Traffic Authority (ITA)
Under the Road Traffic Bill, a reorganised ITA is being established, with additional functions. The Authority will be a statutory body with
responsibilities for the regulation and control of traffic on the roads. The new ITA responsibilities will include:
•
Suspension of driverʼs licences supported by an integrated data system – including ITA, Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ),
the Courts, Transport Authority (TA) and the Police.
•
Licensing and regulation of driving instructors.
•
Keeping of registers – Driverʼs Offences, Driverʼs Licences, National Vehicle Registers and all other documents and registers
to be kept under the Act.
Plans are now in place to suspend driverʼs licences, monitor driver training schools, maintain a National Vehicle Registry, certify and monitor
driving schools and driving instructors and keep and maintain a Driver Offence Register.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
As we march towards modernity to make it easier to do business with government, the establishment of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), a
single entity charged with the responsibility for policy implementation in support of the effective and efficient management of the land transport
sector is far advanced.
The framework for the establishment of the LTA was done under the previous administration. A Cabinet Submission, seeking approval of the
recommendations to effect the establishment of the LTA through the merger of the ITA and the TA, and the regulatory
functions of the Jamaica Railway Corporation (JRC) is being finalised.
The creation of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is intended to address the challenges associated with the fragmented implementation of land
transport related policies, as well as inadequacies and deficiencies within the land transport sector. It will be a
“one-stop shop” for matters related to land transport, yielding economies of scale and improved efficiency in its operations. The way in which
infrastructure and services are provided will be transformed.
We are in the process of quantifying the savings that will be realised through efficiencies derived from several initiatives. These include:
•
the delivery of services from a single location, as opposed to various steps in the process being offered from different locations,
•
elimination of attendant rental/utility costs for the existing locations of the entities to be merged and
•
Improvements in business processes.
This would see a proposed investment build-out as indicated in the table below.
The rail service revitalisation will include developing an alignment to Vernamfield, as the income from such alignment, when the Vernamfield
development gets off the ground, can be significant. The project is expected to employ thousands of persons and effect the economies of scale through
the communities that the rail service passes through. In the first instance, upwards of 200 jobs are expected to be made available. The reintroduction of
train service is also expected to increase access to markets and improve the countryʼs growth and development.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PORTMORE TRANSPORTATION CENTRE
The Portmore Transportation Hub, proposed to be located at the Portmore Town Centre on an undeveloped lot owned by the Urban Development Corpo-
ration (UDC), is being conceptualised on the basis of enhancing public transportation throughout the Portmore area, and improving its linkages with
Downtown Kingston and Half-Way Tree. The concept for the Hub has been agreed on, and details of the project package are being finalised.
Subsequent to completing the feasibility studies of the proposed transportation hub in April 2016, components of which were undertaken by the MTM,
Mott McDonald, Transurb and TEM Network, in September 2016 the report as well as the business case was submitted to the Public
Investment Management Secretariat(PIMSC) for review, and thereafter to the Public Investment Management Committee (PMIC) for approval.
The Public Investment Management Committee (PIMC)has already given approval to the Ministry to proceed to the project proposal stage, where we will
work with the Ministry of Finance and Public Service on the financial aspects of the project
Cabinet is to consider a request for approval for the project, and for the award of contract for the project. The project is valued at €47,312,093.00. A Con-
ditional Contractual Agreement is now in place between the MTM and Belgian Consortium comprising Transurb Technirail S.A., Euro Immo Star S.A. and
Besix S.A.; its finalisation is dependent on Cabinetʼs approval.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE RURAL-URBAN TRANSPORT PLAN
The Ministry is pursuing the development of a Rural Urban Transport Plan to support the Multi-modal Strategy, which is intended to link the major
modes of rail, sea, land and air into a seamless system. This plan is being developed to implement measures, such as colour coding of public passen-
ger vehicles, issuing of parish licence plates and standardising the fare structure. This initiative will see the rationalisation of the rural urban transport
system and the distribution of the real economic costs to all users of public transport across the Jamaica.
A draft Concept Paper was prepared, outlining the premise of the Rural-Urban Transport Plan. The Concept Paper is currently being revised to include
the Rural-Urban Transport Plan Framework, as well as the proposed pilot project in May Pen, Clarendon. The operational requirements for the roll-out of
the pilot service in May Pen was defined during the period, including the depot facility, staffing, operational costs and licences. Stakeholder consulta-
tions are expected to get under way in the last quarter of the 2016/2017 financial year in order to inform the Implementation Plan for the pilot project.
REVISION OF THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT POLICY
The National Transport Policy (NTP), which was compiled to guide the overall development of the transport sector and to provide the framework for the
development of environmentally sound transport infrastructure and services in support of sustainable economic and social growth, is currently being
reviewed.
A NTP Review Working Group has been established to undertake the review of the Policy. A number of meetings of the Group have been held and the
work is progressing steadily The Ministry of Transport and Mining (MTM) has been working closely with the