Letter of the Day | Reconstruction must begin with stewardship

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The Gleaner editorial ‘Red in the NaRRA ledger’ (October 9) raises a troubling question: How can the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) justify an annual expenditure of J$116 million on office accommodation while victims of Hurricane Melissa in western Jamaica continue to endure displacement and makeshift living conditions?

The question is whether the expenditure was necessary, proportionate and consistent with the authority’s statutory responsibilities and the extraordinary circumstances confronting disaster-affected Jamaicans.

As an Anglican I approach this controversy through the moral teachings of our Church.

The Anglican Communion’s Five Marks of Mission call Christians to respond to human need through loving service and to challenge unjust structures within society. These obligations extend beyond ecclesiastical institutions into the ethical responsibilities of those exercising public authority.

The biblical understanding of stewardship, expressed through the concept of oikonomia, reminds us that resources entrusted to human administration must be managed responsibly and for the benefit of those whom they are intended to serve.

Moreover, the Christian model of leadership is grounded in the self-emptying humility of Christ, described in Philippians 2:5-11. Authority is not a privilege to be enjoyed but a responsibility to be exercised in service to others.

In a nation recovering from catastrophe, the measure of effective leadership cannot be the prestige of administrative accommodation. It must be the speed, fairness, transparency and compassion with which devastated communities are restored.

The leadership of the NaRRA should provide a full public explanation, including the alternatives examined, the expenditure authorised, and the reasons for concluding that the chosen premises represented the most appropriate use of public funds.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness must likewise ensure that the reconstruction programme reflects the highest standards of accountability and public confidence.

I conclude with a prayer: O Lord our Heavenly Father, grant to the leadership and staff of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority the spirit of wisdom, humility, and true stewardship. Direct their hearts to seek first the good of those who suffer, that in all their deliberations they may act with justice, integrity, and compassion; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who came not to be served, but to serve. Amen.

DUDLEY MCLEAN II

dm15094@gmail.com