Jamaica Council of Churches presses Senate for tighter NaRRA Bill oversight and public safeguards

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) now stands with critics who want firmer checks and balances written into the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Bill, under active review in the Senate. Representatives approved the measure in a predawn division on the Wednesday of the week just gone, voting on party lines while the Opposition withheld support. If the Senate concurs, the NaRRA Act would establish the agency called NaRRA to lead rebuilding tied to Hurricane Melissa.

Issuing a written comment, the council said it was watching the nationwide conversation on the measure. “As a fellowship of Christian communions committed to the moral, spiritual and social well-being of the nation, the council recognises the urgent necessity of strengthening Jamaica’s capacity to respond to natural disasters, climate vulnerability, infrastructure damage, and community displacement. Recent experiences, particularly following Hurricane Melissa and other severe weather events have underscored the need for coordinated and resilient national reconstruction mechanisms,” said the JCC.

It went on to say it “respectfully believes that moments of national emergency must not weaken the principles of accountability, transparency, consultation, and justice upon which democratic societies depend”. “The biblical witness reminds us that rebuilding after a crisis is not merely an engineering or administrative task, but also a moral undertaking. In the rebuilding narratives of the Book of Nehemiah and Book of Ezra, reconstruction was accompanied by public accountability, stewardship of resources, consultation with the people, and careful oversight of those entrusted with authority,” the council added.

Against that background, it asked the Administration and members of the Senate to bake into the text autonomous scrutiny with real teeth; purchasing and financial reporting that the public can follow; barriers to self-dealing; genuine outreach to neighbourhoods that bear the brunt of disasters; explicit environmental protections; and fair treatment for residents already at risk.

The JCC underlined that it does not object to physical renewal, work to harden the island against shocks, or leaner public administration. “Rather, we affirm that national rebuilding must inspire public trust and reflect the ethical values of fairness, stewardship and accountability,” the council said. “At this critical juncture, we encourage continued national dialogue before final approval of the legislation,” it continued, adding that statutes rushed through in crises often steer the country for decades. “It is therefore essential that such legislation commands broad public confidence and reflects the collective wisdom of the Jamaican people,” the council added.