NaRRA maps major construction projects as Jamaica speeds hurricane rebuild

The National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) is compiling an islandwide picture of major construction works as Jamaica pushes ahead with recovery from Hurricane Melissa.

Chief executive Major General Anthony Anderson shared the update at a recovery and rebuilding expo in St. James. He said the agency’s brief is to move quicker and at greater scale while keeping transparency and accountability front and centre.

“We have a mandate to accelerate. We have a mandate to do things faster, at scale, with transparency and accountability,” Anderson said.

He stressed that urgency must not tip into careless speed. “Urgency is what we’re about now. And speedy outcomes. And an accelerated process. But what that is not is undue haste. You can’t do it in a fool-fool way. Where you just for to achieve haste, you don’t do it properly. That would be as big a tragedy as probably not doing it at all.”

Anderson also said rebuilt infrastructure must withstand hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural hazards.

Since taking office on June 1, he has been engaging ministries, departments and agencies, the private sector and the construction industry. A priority, he said, is understanding every large project underway — including private developments — so planners can see activity across Jamaica “in space and in time.”

That mapping is meant to improve coordination among sectors. NaRRA’s legislation requires a project registry, with each entry subject to Cabinet approval. Anderson said project details and progress will be posted on the authority’s website so the public can follow how works are advancing.