KINGSTON, Jamaica — State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, says the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) is important to the Holness administration delivering on its commitment and renewed mandate to cut red tape, while rebuilding and transforming Jamaican society in a timely, efficient, and sustainable manner.

Senator Fitz-Henley says there is important context to the NaRRA which is being pursued following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa and with the Holness-administration eight months into its third consecutive term.

“It should be noted that the current administration was returned to office having campaigned on a commitment to reduce unhelpful bureaucracy and to execute a raft of strategic development projects. For too many years, it has taken far too long to execute development projects which will transform communities in a real way. The major challenge caused by Hurricane Melissa, which caused tremendous damage to a number of parishes, has made the need to execute these projects in a timely manner even more important, even as we pursue the critical mission of rebuilding areas severely damaged by Melissa in a more resilient and sustainable manner,” Senator Fitz-Henley told the Observer Online.

Senator Fitz-Henley says Jamaicans can be confident that NaRRA presents an institutional architecture through which the Government will convert catastrophe into a competitive advantage for Jamaica, fast-tracking development across communities and ultimately improving lives.

Fitz-Henley says it must also be noted that NaRRA incorporates not just approved reconstruction and resilience projects, which are government-led, but also designated strategic investment projects under FAST Jamaica, which are private sector-led.

“The prime minister was clear that the aim is to ensure that both public and private investment are properly coordinated and operate in a symbiotic manner. The commitment is that every institution or development project that NaRRA builds will be designed for the challenges of the coming years, with consideration for the consequential advent of climate change,” Senator Fitz-Henley reiterated.

Fitz-Henley says the NaRRA draft legislation has impressive accountability mechanisms which augur well for standards of probity, transparency, and good governance.

“There is no doubt that the draft legislation proposes to create a clear and reliable framework, which includes the establishment of performance indicators, accountability standards, and tracking and monitoring systems. A careful reading of the bill also makes it obvious that there are clear timelines prescribed for audit and performance assessment exercises, as well as a framework for consistent superintendence of the performance of NaRRA. Therefore, concerns about the bill, expressed within the context of accountability and probity, lack merit. It is a solid piece of draft legislation,” Fitz-Henley argued.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is expected to close the debate on the NaRRA bill in the House of Representatives next week, after which a vote will take place to determine whether it is approved and referred to the senate.