Minister Floyd Green Says NaRRA to Deliver Results Within Established Oversight Systems

Added: 2026-05-08

[00:00:00]NRA will operate within Jamaica's established accountability framework, which includes the public bodies management and accountability system, oversight from the Auditor General, clearly defined reporting and audit requirements, and ensures that NRA will be subject to scrutiny and transparency.

[00:00:22]There may be differences in our opinion about structure.

[00:00:27]That is not unusual in a democracy, but it should not miss be misinterpreted as an absence of accountability.

[00:00:37]Nor should it distract from the central objective, which is to deliver reconstruction in a manner that is timely, effective, and responsive.

[00:00:48]So, we have heard the suggestions from the opposition and the claims, claims of overreach, centralization, extraordinary powers, but let us be very clear.

[00:01:01]Hurricane Melissa is an extraordinary disaster, and it requires extraordinary coordination.

[00:01:10]The member from St. Catherine South Eastern says he searched the world for a model like this, and he couldn't find a model like this. Well, we should not be surprised.

[00:01:22]The member often searches and speaks about tales, whether that be poison, burnout, or rumors of scandals.

[00:01:38]He then goes on to cite the worst examples of reconstruction.

[00:01:46]He cites the He cited examples from Haiti and Bahamas that have models that THEY ARE PROPOSING, MODELS with boards that THEY ARE PROPOSING. HE CITES THOSE AS EXAMPLES, but he could not find a model like NRA.

[00:02:06]Well, member, typing 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

[00:02:12]Look at the New Zealand model, the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.

[00:02:19]It is a body I heard you, member.

[00:02:23]It It It did not have a board.

[00:02:26]It did not have a board. It did not report to a board. It was led by a chief executive who reported to the responsible minister, and in fact, it is the responsible minister who appointed the CEO.

[00:02:44]That is the model. And you know what they achieved in 5 years?

[00:02:48]Over $4 billion in a public recovery program. You know what they achieved? A national rebuild program in less than a year. You know what THEY ACHIEVED? MAJOR RECONSTRUCTION in 3 years. You know what they achieved?

[00:03:02]13 ANCHOR PROJECTS IN 5 YEARS, including stadium, CONFERENCE CENTER, JUSTICE CENTER.

[00:03:10]THEY WERE ABLE TO RELOCATE IN 5 YEARS 7,000 unsafe homes.

[00:03:18]They did in 6 years what the world does in 20 years.

[00:03:23]If you ask the people of Black River, "What model are we choosing? Give us the quicker model.

[00:03:29]Give us the model that will deliver results in the shortest possible time."

[00:03:36]And that is what NRA is. So, yes, some say it centralizes power.

[00:03:45]Yes, disaster recovery cannot be managed by committee consideration. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A central source of authority.

[00:03:56]Some say it gives too much authority to act quickly. Yes, IT DOES UNDER SECTION 12, BECAUSE APPROVALS THAT TAKE years need to take weeks in this situation.

[00:04:14]It allows for land acquisition, of course, because we can't rebuild the same, and in some areas we cannot rebuild. So, we have to be able to have the power to make these decisions. Madam Speaker, the opposition calls it overreach. I call it readiness. We have to have the ability to act when the nation needs us most.

[00:04:41]The real risk is not that NRA is too strong. The real risk is that without it, we are too slow, too fragmented, too unprepared.

[00:04:51]New Zealand learned their lesson and built a system that delivered results.

[00:04:58]We now have the opportunity. We, in this house, let us learn from that model. Let us not reject a proven model out of fear and partisanship.

[00:05:13]Let us embrace what has worked and do the right thing so that the people in Dallas Town, THE PEOPLE IN GARLANDS, the people over in Balaclava and Burn Savannah, they can see real reconstruction in the shortest possible time.

[00:05:38]We have We are getting it right with NRA. Let us now get it moving.

[00:05:44]Like members and we grew up in country, we know delay is danger.

[00:05:54]Let us resist the urge to delay. We must pass this bill today and start the reconstruction. I thank you.