Budget season is here again. I started the process as early as October of last year when we asked ministries to put together their plans, that’s the budget call, so we’re ready for the presentations that begin in March. It’s a lot of work, and it takes months to get everything in order. My Ministry, the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, covers many areas. Minister Morgan looks after the works portfolio, which includes the National Works Agency (NWA) and the NROCC. These agencies handle highways, national roads, and local road maintenance. Every year, they bring me lists of projects: new highways, roads to repair, bridges, and other civil works to keep Jamaica’s infrastructure world-class. I spend time with NWA and NROCC to go through their plans in detail, and together we create a priority list. Not everything they ask for can be funded, so we must choose what we can realistically deliver. All capital projects must also go through a Public Investment Appraisal. That means each project, whether it’s a road, a school, a courthouse, or a water system, competes for the same pool of capital. Projects are judged on their benefits, risks, and readiness. Those that are more advanced and better prepared are more likely to get funding. So when I say we pick projects, it’s not wishful thinking. We evaluate, prioritize, and sometimes fund their preparation so they can move forward in future years. Many projects take several years from planning to groundbreaking, but this is how we build lasting infrastructure for Jamaica. This is your government at work.(Andrew Holness)