Antony Anderson, ambassador to US and former police, army chief, to head NaRRA

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has announced the appointment of Major General Antony Anderson, Jamaica's ambassador to the United States, as the first chief executive officer of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA). The appointment takes effect on June 1. 

"I have great confidence in Ambassador Anderson," he said at a post-Cabinet news conference on Wednesday. 

Anderson previously served as Commissioner of Police, Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force and National Security Adviser.

NaRRA is a special-purpose body intended to fast-track major infrastructure and recovery projects. It's a response to the Hurricane Melissa devastation. 

Holness also confirmed that the controversial NaRRA legislation has now officially become law.

“NaRRA is fully legal. NaRRA is in effect,” Holness said, adding that the Governor General Sir Patrick Allen had signed and sealed the legislation under the NaRRA Act.

The prime minister said Anderson emerged from what he described as a “very extensive process” involving both local and international recruitment.

According to Holness, approximately 120 applications were received for several NaRRA positions, including 85 applications for the CEO post alone.

Seven candidates were shortlisted, including three Jamaicans and four overseas applicants from countries including Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

A former UK diplomat was reportedly among those considered. It's also understood that a senior United Nations official, who is Jamaican, was among the top contenders following an initial assessment. 

Holness said the recruitment panel included Public Service Commission Chairman Patricia Sinclair McCalla, Cabinet Secretary Audrey Sewell, Maria Thompson Walters who heads the Transformation Implementation Unit, Port Authority Chairman Gordon Shirley and Stephen Edwards from the National Road Operating and Constructing Company. 

The Prime Minister stressed that he kept his distance from the selection process.

The NaRRA legislation was approved in the Senate on May 8 following a marathon debate and sustained criticism from the parliamentary opposition and civil society groups.

The Opposition and dozens of civil society groups and individuals argued that the legislation grants sweeping powers to the authority’s leadership and the responsible minister, including the ability to override regulatory bodies, while insufficient safeguards existed for oversight and accountability.

However, Government lawmakers defended the legislation as necessary to improve coordination and speed up reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Melissa and other national emergencies.

They also maintained that amendments introduced during debate in the House of Representatives strengthened accountability provisions through parliamentary reporting requirements, stakeholder consultations and conflict-of-interest protections.

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