NaRRA head says recovery machinery already in motion

 

Some four months after being commissioned, the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) says the recovery machinery is already in motion, with boots on the ground at several project sites to ensure oversight of critical post-hurricane recovery works.

 

Chief Executive Officer of NaRRA Ambassador Antony Anderson says multiple field assessments across several sectors have been conducted, which will help to guide the authority's impending programme planning and execution. 

 

"These visits have allowed us to see firsthand the work being undertaken, engage with the programme and project managers, contractors, technical teams and gain key insights that will inform NaRRA's approach to programme planning and delivery. We have visited some of the affected communities, including Black River, Parottee, some communities in Westmoreland, and that's really to listen to the people; listen what they are saying, what their fears and concerns are, to see the conditions for ourselves and discuss the ways in which we can rebuild in a manner and in locations which protect lives but enhance livelihoods and create safer and more resilient communities. So there is movement," said Ambassador Anderson. 

 

The update comes at a time when the government has reported stalled works in rebuilding the education sector even as other essential areas have been restored. 

 

Only 57 of the more than 300 schools deemed severely damaged have been restored, with the members of the public demanding faster action. 

 

The delays in part have been attributed to a lack of technical capacity and a shortage of skilled construction workers. 

 

Meanwhile, Ambassador Anderson said work is also underway to build out the NaRRA team among all the critical operational arrangements. 

 

"Creating team NaRRA is also underway. We have more or less settled on the organisational structure, created job descriptions and recruiting is in train. This team will combine the right blend of technical project management, procurement, financial, communications and administrative capabilities. We have identified and secured premises for the authority's operational base. We can't wait to move in actually and we will be doing that in the next couple of weeks. Simultaneously, we are scoping and acquiring the ICT tools, systems and platforms necessary to support internal operations and programme delivery," he shared.

 

Ambassador Anderson was speaking at Tuesday morning's signing ceremony for the World Bank Grant to the National Reconstruction Implementation Support Project, a grant agreement between Jamaica and the World Bank.