The National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Bill has now been assented into law.

This formally establishes the framework for the country’s accelerated reconstruction and resilience programme, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

The confirmation was made by Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness.

The new law provides the legal foundation for the work of NaRRA which will coordinate and drive major reconstruction and resilience projects.

Prime Minister Holness said the passage of the legislation marks an important step in Jamaica’s recovery and long-term development agenda.

According to him, the passage of the NaRRA legislation is a decisive step in Jamaica’s national reconstruction effort.

He stated that Hurricane Melissa caused significant damage, but also created an opportunity for the country to rebuild in a way that is stronger, faster, better coordinated and more resilient.

He said NaRRA will allow the authorities to move with the urgency that this moment requires, while maintaining the discipline, transparency and accountability that the Jamaican people expect.

The Prime Minister has also announced that a list of priority reconstruction and resilience projects is now being considered by Cabinet.

These projects will form part of a coordinated national programme aimed at restoring damaged infrastructure, strengthening public assets, improving service delivery and supporting long-term economic growth.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the reconstruction process will be approached as a national development programme.

The members of Jamaica Reconstruction and Resilience Oversight Committee (JAMRROC), the independent public oversight body for the reconstruction programme will be named in short order.

JAMRROC will play a key role in strengthening public confidence in the reconstruction process by supporting independent oversight, transparency and accountability.

The Government has said that the reconstruction programme will be supported by mechanisms including public reporting, audited financial statements, performance indicators, ministerial oversight and a public electronic register of approved reconstruction and resilience projects.

The Prime Minister said the Government is committed to ensuring that reconstruction is carried out with speed, but not at the expense of good governance.

The passage of the NaRRA Law follows extensive work across Government and with local and international partners to design a reconstruction framework that can respond to the scale of the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa while embedding stronger standards of resilience, climate adaptation, fiscal discipline and institutional accountability.

The office of the Prime Minister said further updates will be provided as the priority project list is finalised and the members of JAMRROC are announced.