The Opposition People’s National Party is calling for the contested National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Bill to be sent to a Joint Select Committee before any further progress is made.
The Bill aims to establish a single central authority to lead, coordinate and speed up post-hurricane reconstruction efforts, particularly following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa last October.
However, during Parliamentary debates last Tuesday, the Opposition cited concerns relating to unchecked power and limited oversight.
The Government’s Marlene Malahoo Forte also noted that the Bill, in its current form, needed reworking.
Since Tuesday’s sitting of Parliament, members of the Government have sought to defend the Bill.
Among them is Member of Parliament for South West St. Elizabeth, Floyd Green.
Mr. Green noted the urgent need to accelerate reconstruction efforts across communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa, particularly in western parishes.
However, the Opposition maintains that an authority with enormous financial responsibility must have basic internal governance structures in place.
Deputy Spokesperson on Productivity and Efficiency, Senator Cleveland Tomlinson, acknowledged the urgency of reconstruction after the hurricane, but argued that speed cannot justify the absence of proper oversight.
He is proposing that a Joint Select Committee be convened with a period of 60-90 days to complete its deliberations.
