Two church groups warn against ‘extraordinary powers’ in NaRRA bill

Two church groups are raising concerns about the Government’s proposed National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), warning against what they describe as potential gaps in oversight, secrecy protections, and the expansion of “extraordinary powers”.

The authority is proposed under the NaRRA legislation, a special-purpose vehicle intended to fast-track projects aimed at rebuilding Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa last year.

The proposed law would grant the authority’s chief executive officer and the responsible minister broad powers to accelerate projects, including the ability to override some regulatory processes.

In separate statements, the Watchman Church Leaders Alliance (WCLA) and the Jamaica Umbrella Groups of Churches (JUGC) said Jamaica urgently needs a stronger disaster recovery mechanism following Hurricane Melissa, but argued that speed and efficiency must not come at the expense of transparency, accountability, judicial oversight, and public trust.

“The country requires mechanisms that can mobilize resources quickly, coordinate implementation efficiently, and restore critical systems with urgency and competence,” the WCLA said.

However, the alliance cautioned that “speed alone cannot become the defining principle of governance,” while urging lawmakers to strengthen accountability arrangements within the proposed authority.

The WCLA called for the establishment of a governing board to oversee NaRRA, preservation of whistleblower protections, legally embedded oversight mechanisms, and guarantees that citizens’ rights to fair treatment and environmental accountability would not be weakened.

The alliance also argued that NaRRA should remain focused primarily on hurricane recovery efforts and warned against expanding its reach into unrelated non-emergency matters.

The JUGC, in an open letter to the Government, expressed similar concerns while acknowledging that amendments had already been made to the proposed framework during the parliamentary process.

The church group said it welcomed the Government’s stated intention to strengthen Jamaica’s ability to respond quickly to disasters and urgent national development needs, but insisted that “continued clarity and vigilance” would be critical as the framework is finalized and implemented.

The JUGC questioned why the Jamaica Recovery and Reconstruction Oversight Committee (JAMRROC) was not being given statutory footing within the legislation and asked what additional safeguards would ensure independent oversight of NaRRA’s executive leadership.

The church body also raised concerns about exemptions from the Public Investment Management System (PIMS) for certain approved reconstruction and strategic investment projects.

“Where approved reconstruction or strategic investment projects are exempted from aspects of the Public Investment Management System, what alternative appraisal process will ensure value for money, proper risk assessment, and responsible use of public funds?” the JUGC asked.

Among its other concerns were the balance between confidentiality provisions and whistleblower protections, preservation of judicial review, meaningful consultation with affected communities, and safeguards against the authority being expanded beyond its intended emergency reconstruction role.

The JUGC also questioned what mechanisms would prevent NaRRA’s “temporary” powers from becoming a permanent feature of Jamaica’s governance structure.

Both church groups called for broader bipartisan engagement and consultations involving civil society, constitutional experts, the private sector, and community stakeholders.

The WCLA said “true resilience is built not only through roads, bridges, and infrastructure, but through institutions that are credible, balanced, transparent, and worthy of public confidence.”

Meanwhile, the JUGC warned that “true resilience cannot be built on weakened accountability, but on the firm foundation of integrity, transparency, and justice.”

The two church groups join more than 28 civil society groups and individuals, along with the Opposition People’s National Party, in criticising the NaRRA bill, which passed in the House of Representatives last week.

The Government has maintained that the legislation contains sufficient safeguards.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

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