KINGSTON, Jamaica — A major leadership transition is underway at Jamaica’s National Works Agency (NWA), the government body tasked with overseeing the island’s critical road network and flood management systems. Officials have formally launched a search for a new chief executive officer, bringing a close to the 14-year tenure of longtime incumbent Everton “EG” Hunter.
The vacancy announcement, published this past Sunday, outlines the core responsibilities that will fall to the successful applicant: setting strategic direction for the 1,000-plus person agency, supervising large-scale public infrastructure projects, managing the island’s sprawling road network, leading investments in climate-resilient infrastructure upgrades, and upholding full compliance with central government procurement and financial rules. The role comes with a competitive starting annual compensation package of roughly JMD $17 million.
The timing of the leadership change is not accidental: the NWA has faced escalating public backlash in recent months from across Jamaican society, with residents, motorists, local business owners, and elected officials all voicing frustration over persistent poor road conditions and slow, inconsistent responses to infrastructure complaints across multiple parishes.
One of the most high-profile critics in recent weeks is Delano Seiveright, Member of Parliament for St Andrew North Central, who has publicly lambasted the agency for what he calls unacceptably slow, disjointed, and in some cases completely absent action on road issues affecting his constituents. Speaking at a recent Constituency Development Fund community consultation, Seiveright noted that crumbling road infrastructure has become the top complaint from residents in his area, with widespread grievances over unaddressed potholes, months-long delays for critical repairs, accelerating erosion of the Sandy Gully infrastructure, and roads left damaged and unrepaired after utility companies complete underground work.
Seiveright also called out the NWA for snubbing the public consultation, despite receiving a formal invitation to attend and answer resident questions. While he acknowledged that managing Jamaica’s extensive 27,000-kilometre national road network presents enormous logistical and financial challenges, he stressed that Jamaican voters now demand far greater responsiveness, transparency, accountability, and delivery from the agency charged with maintaining this critical public asset.
Seiveright’s criticisms echo widespread frustration among road users across the country, who regularly report deteriorating pavement on major travel corridors, including many high-traffic routes throughout the densely populated Kingston Metropolitan Area.
The CEO recruitment also coincides with ongoing government discussions over a sweeping road management reform: the proposed creation of a One Road Authority, an initiative championed by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness designed to cut through coordination gaps, improve accountability, and strengthen long-term strategic management of Jamaica’s entire road infrastructure network.
For policy analysts and Jamaican residents alike, the selection of a new NWA CEO will be closely watched as a key test of the government’s commitment to fixing longstanding problems in infrastructure delivery, rebuilding public trust, and delivering tangible improvements to road conditions across the island. Applications for the position will remain open until June 19, 2026.