The Leader of Opposition Business in the Lower House has described as disingenuous comments made by his government counterpart regarding the oversight mechanism for Hurricane Melissa relief.

Phillip Paulwell pointed out that Floyd Green made misleading statements during the sitting of Parliament yesterday.

This was in response to a letter by Green expressing disappointment in the Opposition’s stance on the oversight mechanism.

In a release today, Mr. Paulwell explained that the Opposition has long called for the establishment of a national task force.

The spokesman said the Opposition does not support having a joint select committee of Parliament to oversee the national relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts arising from Hurricane Melissa.

He added that the Opposition has been consistent in its position on a national task force, with Opposition Leader Mark Golding sending letters to Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness on the matter.

Mr. Paulwell noted that a parliamentary committee would be confined to partisan or parliamentary boundaries, adding that this new committee would only duplicate the functions of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).

He said the Opposition remains fully committed to transparency, good governance and the equitable distribution of relief. 

He said the Opposition will not lend legitimacy to any mechanism that blurs the constitutional separation of roles or that appears designed to centralize control rather than to foster the unity and cooperation Jamaica needs at this critical time.