NWA scoffs at claims its quality management system deficient

The National Works Agency (NWA) has scoffed at claims that a deficiency in its quality management system is contributing to the rapid deterioration of the country's road and drainage infrastructure, especially during natural disasters.

Fresh concerns about the quality of infrastructure work overseen by the NWA have emerged after the Dumbarton bridge in St Ann which was repaired after collapsing during heavy rains in the middle of last year is now showing signs of deterioration and may be in danger of collapse again.

NWA Communications Manager Stephen Shaw while opting to defer the response to his boss, sought to dismiss the claim.

Shaw yesterday rebuffed claims that the signs of deterioration of the Dumbarton bridge are the result of poor quality work.

In a letter to the chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee in November, Executive Director of the National Integrity Action, Professor Trevor Munroe, pointed to a performance audit conducted by the Auditor General in 2015 which revealed that the NWA could not independently verify quality tests done on materials used by contractors in the building and repairing of roads across the island.

Munroe said the NWA should be summoned to appear before the committee to provide a status report on its quality management system.

The NIA head said this deficiency was indicative of the obvious weakness in the system of accountability and directly contributes to road deterioration, which is enraging Jamaicans and wasting scarce public resources.

Heavy rains since last week have resulted in several roads becoming impassable due to landslides and flooding, mainly in northern and eastern parishes.

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