Holness appoints Antony Anderson to lead NaRRA

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced the appointment of Ambassador Major General Antony Anderson as chief executive officer of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA).Anderson, who currently serves as Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, will assume duties on June 1, Holness said at a special post-cabinet press briefing on Monday.The prime minister said the appointment comes at a critical stage in Jamaica’s post-Hurricane Melissa recovery and reconstruction programme, as the Government moves to accelerate implementation while maintaining strong systems of accountability, transparency and fiscal discipline.NaRRA has been established to coordinate and drive Jamaica’s national reconstruction and resilience agenda, with a mandate to support the timely delivery of major infrastructure, social and economic recovery projects across sectors.“Major General Anthony Anderson brings to NaRRA the discipline, integrity and operational command required for this moment. Jamaica is entering a period of reconstruction that must be defined by speed, but also by transparency, proper planning and accountability,” Holness said.He added: “His experience leading national institutions, responding to crises and strengthening disaster risk management systems makes him well-suited to drive this mandate. NaRRA’s mission is to build stronger, safer and more resilient communities.”Holness noted that his administration will ensure “that every dollar spent contributes to Jamaica’s long-term development, productivity and economic growth”.Anderson brings extensive experience in public administration, national security, disaster management, institutional leadership and crisis response. He also recently chaired Jamaica’s post-Hurricane Beryl Disaster Risk Management Review Committee, which examined lessons from the national response and made recommendations to strengthen Jamaica’s disaster preparedness and resilience systems.Commenting on his appointment, Anderson said, “The passage of Hurricane Melissa and the consequent financial arrangements have provided us with an opportunity to do national development at an unprecedented scale and with speed.”He continued: “However, despite the obvious urgency, proper planning, transparent contracting and approval processes with structured, disciplined, time-bound execution, must define this development. Multi-sectoral infrastructure programmes must be synergistically integrated to maximise the impact of the spend, and crucially, to provide a platform for improved delivery of services, increased productivity and economic growth.”He added that NaRRA must represent more than a short-term reconstruction response.“Jamaica stands at a defining moment. The establishment of NaRRD (National Reconstruction Resilience Department) as the precursor to NaRRA following Hurricane Melissa represents more than a reconstruction initiative; it is an opportunity to embed resilience, climate adaptation, fiscal discipline, and institutional integrity into the nation’s long-term development architecture.”Anderson noted that, having piloted large national institutions under crisis conditions and having recently chaired Jamaica’s post-Hurricane Beryl Disaster Risk Management Review Committee, he is prepared to provide the strategic leadership, operational command and fiduciary oversight required to deliver the NaRRA mandate at scale.Holness said Anderson’s leadership will be central to ensuring that reconstruction is carried out with urgency, but also with the discipline required to protect public resources, coordinate major projects and deliver lasting national benefit.NaRRA is expected to play a key role in integrating infrastructure, housing, public facilities, utilities, roads, bridges and community resilience projects into a coherent national programme. The authority will also support the Government’s broader objective of ensuring that post-Hurricane Melissa reconstruction strengthens Jamaica’s long-term capacity for growth, service delivery, productivity and climate resilience.