KINGSTON, Jamaica — The person to be appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), will serve for an initial three years.

This is according to the NaRRA Bill that was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness. NaRRA will drive reconstruction efforts, focusing on so-called resilience projects, in the aftermath of the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Holness told the House that five persons have been shortlisted for interviews following advertisements locally and internationally.

The CEO will be appointed by the Prime Minister by instrument in writing and may be re-appointed for periods not exceeding one year at a time.

According to the Bill, “No person shall be eligible to be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority if the person is a member of either House of Parliament or a member of any local authority”.

The Bill states that the name of the CEO as first constituted and every change thereof shall be published in the Gazette. The CEO may, at any time, resign his office by instrument in writing addressed to the prime minister and such resignation shall take effect as from the date of the receipt of such instrument by the prime minister.

Significantly, the prime minister may at any time revoke the appointment of a person as the CEO for varying reasons, including if such individual has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude or dishonesty; becomes pennanently unable to perform his functions by reason of mental or physical infirmity; becomes bankrupt or compounds with, or suspends payment to, his creditors; is convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment or to death; is convicted of any offence involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; fails to carry out any of the functions conferred or imposed on him under this Act.

The CEO is mandated to keep proper records of the business of the Authority.

-Lynford Simpson