Cut red tape when lives on the line

DECLARING that he would act the same way again in another national disaster, Energy and Telecommunications Minister Daryl Vaz is advocating amendments to Jamaica’s procurement laws to ensure future governments can move swiftly when national emergencies disrupt communications and put lives at risk.

The minister, who has been at the centre of controversy over the purchase of Starlink satellite devices following Hurricane Melissa, argued that rigid procurement procedures were never designed for moments when communities are cut off and lives depend on immediate action.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing Wednesday, Vaz insisted that if faced with similar circumstances, he would not hesitate to intervene again, even if it meant attracting criticism from oversight bodies.

“If, unfortunately, next year, Hurricane Daryl or Hurricane Dana comes and I find myself in the same position, yes, I will have to get written up again. Extreme times require extreme actions. People suffering, people to be evacuated, searched [for] and rescued, can’t wait on a procurement process that takes weeks,” Vaz said.

When asked directly whether the episode showed a need for legislative reform, Vaz was unequivocal, describing the issue as obvious.

“That’s a no-brainer. Our prime minister has already spoken on this issue and I look forward to what takes place going forward because that’s an absolute no-brainer,” he said.

The energy minister argued that Jamaica’s legal framework makes little distinction between routine Government purchases and urgent disaster response, a gap he believes must be closed before the next major storm.

“You cannot have the same guidelines in normal times that you have in extreme times, and therefore, the fact of the matter is that if that’s what obtains and there’s only procurement for normal times, then we have to use our judgement as persons who have been elected and persons who have been appointed to do what is best to represent and protect the people of this country, and for that, I have no apology,” Vaz declared.

Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica on October 28, 2025, caused widespread damage to electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, leaving several communities without reliable contact for days. The Government turned to Starlink technology to re-establish Internet access for emergency agencies, health facilities, and relief centres.

While the move was welcomed by many residents desperate for communication, the auditor general later reported that the procurement did not comply with the law, triggering a heated political debate.

Vaz said his call for reform was not about expanding ministerial power, but about creating practical tools for crisis management.

“I don’t think it has to do that. I think it just has to deal with emergency practical solutions. It doesn’t have to specifically deal with Starlink. It’s just emergency as against normal times and what obtains in an emergency to be able to get the reaction that you need when people are out there dying and suffering,” he said.

Vaz sought to temper the debate by making it clear that he was not dismissing the auditor general’s findings, insisting that his defence of the decision should not be interpreted as hostility toward the oversight body.

“I accept fully what was said by the auditor general in relation to me getting involved in the procurement,” he said.

The minister stressed that his intention was to explain the circumstances rather than to challenge the role of the Auditor General’s Department, which he described as an important part of Government accountability.

“I’m justifying my position while basically paying respect to the Auditor General’s Department and her for her job that she does, because I do not wish to be in a controversial position with any agency of government,” Vaz added.

He maintained, however, that the realities on the ground after Hurricane Melissa left little room for procedural delays, particularly as emergency responders struggled to maintain communication with isolated communities.

Vaz argued that the urgency of the situation had to be weighed against standard procurement timelines, which he said were never intended for disaster conditions.

“My position remains that I justified it to be why I did it, because I believe it’s important to clear the noise so that people hear from me directly as to the position that I have taken. It’s a very simple position. I didn’t have to comment, but that’s not my nature,” he said.