The parliamentary debate over the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Act has now ended; the legislation has passed. And yet the argument continues, as the questions raised about governance persist. These are relevant questions that the passage of the legislation does not, by itself, answer, and we should still be grappling with them.

The concerns centered on executive authority, procurement exemptions, and the concentration of decision-making power are legitimate. These concerns were raised in good faith by individuals who contribute meaningfully and consistently to Jamaica’s democratic discourse. Though those positions did not ultimately hold sway, does not invalidate those concerns.

The burden of proof now shifts to those responsible for implementing NaRRA: the institution, its capacity, and the people in charge of it must demonstrate, through performance, that the powers granted to them are justified by the outcomes they produce.