IRIE FM

The Government has decided to review the lease arrangement for the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NARRA) for its headquarters at the Digicel building in Downtown Kingston.

This follows concerns about the approximately $115 million annual cost of leasing the premises.

As a result, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness says NARRA’s roll out will be scaled back and this will affect the pace at which projects are rolled-out.

Dr. Holness says the Government’s decision to review the lease underscores that it is sensitive to public sentiments on the matter of the cost of the space.

At the same time, he notes that the public may not understand that NARRA required the space to get projects underway quickly.

Furthermore, Dr. Holness says the state does not want to erode public trust in NARRA by not listening to their views on the rental cost.

Dr. Holness underscores that the decision by the Government highlights the strength of the country’s democracy, although it is sad that the pace of project completions under NARRA will be affected.

Meanwhile, Dr. Holness says the Government will initially stage NARRA’s operations on one floor rather than two. Operations at the location are scheduled to begin by November 1.

He says the public can rest assured that their tax dollars will not be wasted.

Dr. Holness was speaking at an Office of the Prime Minister retreat at the Terra Nova Hotel in St. Andrew this morning.

The Prime Minister says the Digicel building in Downtown Kingston is a site that is resilient and can withstand a disaster.

Dr. Holness explains that this was among the factors that led the Government to enter into a lease arrangement with Digicel for space to host NARRA.

The Prime Minister says NARRA was set up to facilitate a wide variety of infrastructure projects, including housing.

In order for NARRA to carry out its operations effectively, Dr. Holness says the site would have to be centrally located, as well as be able to operate during and immediately after a natural disaster.

He says not many buildings in Jamaica meet NARRA’s operational parameters.

Dr. Holness indicates that the Government does not have purpose built structures that could house NARRA effectively.

He admits that the Government is in a bad state as it relates to its buildings, and this affects how it carries out operations.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding says under the law, suitable government-owned premises should have been used to serve as the headquarters of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NARRA).

He was addressing concerns regarding the estimated $115 million lease arrangement entered into between Digicel and the Government to house NARRA at the telecommunications provider’s Downtown Kingston building.

Following public backlash, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness said the lease arrangement will be reviewed.

This will result in NARRA occupying one floor of the building instead of two.

According to Mr. Golding, the legislation which establishes NARRA directs the Government to use public assets to carry out the Authority’s functions, not private sector properties.

Mr. Golding says the Government must tell the nation what effort it made to find suitable buildings it owned to accommodate NARRA’s offices.

He highlights that the issue over NARRA’s lease comes against the background of what he deems the slow pace of assistance to several Hurricane Melissa victims.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has noted an urgent need for the specific provisions related to jury tampering to be passed.

The Bill seeks to allow a trial judge to proceed with a case, after the jury has been discharged, due to tampering.

Initially, this aspect of amendments to the Jury Act was withdrawn, following concern by the Opposition, with a recommendation for a joint select committee to review the provisions.

Speaking in Parliament Yesterday, Mr. Chuck cited concern about delaying the process, adding that there is no longer a need for the tampering provisions to go before a committee.

He described the matter of jury tampering as a danger to the judicial system.

The Justice Minister pointed out that concerns raised by the Opposition were taken into consideration and the Bill has been refined accordingly.

He said the revised Bill will ensue that trials are not derailed by intimidation or corruption.

He called on the Opposition to support the revised tampering provisions and pass them by next week, while assuring that the overall Jury Act amendment will be put before a joint select committee, at a later date.

The St. Ann Chamber of Commerce is raising concern about a median being constructed along a section of the roadway, in Roaring River.

The project is being carried out by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) in collaboration with the National Works Agency (NWA).

The adjustment to the roadway is to facilitate vehicles entering and exiting a housing development, being constructed in the area.

Some motorists have described the ongoing road works as a hazard, adding that the housing development could worsen the traffic situation, in the parish.

Chamber President Kenneth Anglin says the new median poses a risk of traffic congestion.

He says the situation could also affect productivity and commerce.

Mr. Anglin points out that St. Ann hosts several parties annually.

He fears that once completed, the median could create challenges for motorists, especially those accessing party spots close to the housing development.

He says the Chamber will be writing a letter to the St. Ann Municipal Corporation about the issue.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the St. Ann Municipal Corporation Mayor Michael Belnavis says a traffic management system will be put in place along the Roaring River section of the North Coast Highway.

It follows concerns that a median being constructed on the road in the area will cause traffic gridlock and delays.

Speaking with IRIE FM News Mayor Belnavis admits that the median is not acceptable, in its current form.

However, he explains that the Municipal Corporation has been informed that the roadway is being widened to accommodate the median and new traffic lights.

He says when completed this will address concerns regarding traffic.

Mayor Belnavis says the installation of the traffic lights will be completed within the coming weeks.

Dancehall veteran Charmaine Munroe, better known by her stage name Macka Diamond, says she is fed up with people who continue to criticize her life choices.

In a recent social media rant laced with expletives, the dye dye singer pushed back against what she says is unwarranted criticism of her personal life and online presence on the streaming platform tik tok.

Macka says she will not be bullied into leaving TikTok, and despite captioning the video, ‘leaving dancehall’, she says she will continue to do music at her own pace.

Macka Diamond is no stranger to online trolling and scrutiny.

In 2019, a google search for the money-o artiste reportedly returned the age of 119, sparking questions and online discussion about her age.

Another fake age reading also circulated online at the time, prompting Macka Diamond to threaten legal action against persons responsible for spreading the false information.

Hospitals damaged by Hurricane Melissa are set to reopen or have major facilities restored this month, as the health sector continues its recovery nearly a year after the storm.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton gave the update at this morning’s post-Cabinet press briefing.

He said the male and female surgical wards at Black River Hospital will have increased bed capacity.

At Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, the female surgical wards are being renovated, along with works to reduce overcrowding and increase bed and facility capacity.

Dr. Tufton added that the main ward at Falmouth Hospital is also expected to be completed this month, although some work could extend into November.

Restoration works are also continuing at Noel Holmes Hospital in Hanover.

Meanwhile, the main building at Cornwall Regional Hospital is now ready, with the accident and emergency department set to officially reopen this month.

Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central, Dwayne Vaz, is calling for a tiered system to be implemented to provide equity in relation to the Constituency Development Fund.

In his contribution to the state of the constituency debate in the Lower House yesterday, Mr. Vaz said it is not fair for all constituencies to receive the same financial allocations.

He argued that a constituency with 50,000 citizens should not receive the same amount as a constituency with 20,000.

He wants an objective criteria to create a tiered system by population, number of communities, and other factors.

He said the tiered system is intended to help change people’s lives for the better.

Mr. Vaz argued that Westmoreland central citizens have waited long enough for change.

Jamaicans are being urged to celebrate the country’s significant decline in murders, with Information Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon stressing the importance of recognising the progress.

As of October 6, 407 murders were recorded, compared with 534 over the corresponding period last year, representing a 24 per cent decline.

Dr. Morris Dixon says violent crime has weighed heavily on the nation for decades, undermining peace and security and the reduction matters.

She notes that September recorded 36 murders, making it the fourth month this year with 40 or fewer murders.

She was reiterating comments by National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang, who has also urged Jamaicans to recognise the significance of the decline.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is partnering with the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NARRA) to advance the development of four new hospitals as part of a major modernization and climate-resilience initiative.

Portfolio Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton made the announcement at this morning’s post-Cabinet press briefing.

He said the collaboration will see the Ministry managing critical components of the technical specifications while NARRA provides oversight throughout the process.

Two of the hospitals are planned for the Western Regional Health Authority, with one each in the Southern and South Eastern Regional Health Authorities.

He described the initiative as historic, saying it represents a renewal and continuation of Jamaica’s health infrastructure, with bigger and better-equipped facilities.

The Government has allocated $19 million towards sanitation and beautification works in each constituency for the upcoming Christmas period.

Works Minister Robert Morgan said the Constituency Mitigation Programme for December 2026 will be implemented by the National Works Agency and the National Solid Waste Management Authority.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Morgan noted that the programme will also cover minor road repairs, de-bushing and drain cleaning.

The $19 million is broken down into different amounts for each aspect of the programme. 

Morgan told colleague Members of Parliament that submissions for works they want undertaken in their respective constituencies must be sent to the NWA by October 20.