Work in Progress on Details of NaRRA

Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Ambassador Dr. Rocky Meade, says details of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) are still being worked on.

Dr. Meade made the disclosure on Wednesday (December 10), during a sitting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) of Parliament.

“The idea is to have a body with special powers that can expedite the major rebuilding process, while being compliant but nonetheless pulling all the MDAs (ministries, departments, and agencies) together to expedite that,” he said.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, recently announced the establishment of the NaRRA.

Dr. Meade reiterated that an authority such as this is not unusual, either generally worldwide or even in Jamaica, noting that following the passage of Hurricane Ivan, former Prime Minister, the

Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, had put in place the Office of National Reconstruction.

“We’re looking to build on that good effort and to have the NaRRA with similar powers, and as I said, to be compliant, be transparent, but find a way to expedite processes that normally hold things up,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary said there has been concern about how much funds are being dedicated to the rebuilding process.

Dr. Meade noted that while money has been put in the Supplementary Budget, approval has been given for the Support Jamaica fund, which is almost at $1 billion, to be dedicated to roof repairs.

The Support Jamaica website, which is an online platform, can be accessed at supportjamaica.gov.jm and was developed by the Government of Jamaica.