Antony Anderson named National Reconstruction Authority CEO as Act takes effect

Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, that the National Reconstruction Authority Act is now in force and that Major General Antony Anderson will become chief executive officer of the authority effective June 1.

Holness told a post-Cabinet press briefing that the legislation had received Royal Assent, giving the authority its legal identity, duties and powers. He said Anderson, Jamaica’s current ambassador to the United States, was chosen after an international recruitment process that drew 120 applications, including 85 for the CEO post. Seven candidates were shortlisted, three Jamaicans and four international applicants.

The Prime Minister said Anderson’s leadership of the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, along with his work reviewing the State’s response to Hurricane Beryl, placed him close to the issues the authority will handle. He said the first register of National Reconstruction Authority projects should be published in about a week, along with the terms of reference and membership of the Jamaica Reconstruction and Resilience Oversight Committee.

Holness said the first priority should be projects tied to people who need relocation or home reconstruction after Hurricane Melissa. Asked what progress should look like by May 27, 2027, he said those immediate recovery and livelihood-related matters should be completed by then.

Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. also updated the ROOFS programme, saying more than 116,000 household assessments had been recorded. He stressed that the figure refers to households, not individuals. About 45,000 verified cases were placed in phase one, and more than 80 per cent of those beneficiaries had already received a voucher, text message, cash or material support.

Charles said remaining phase-one beneficiaries can check their status at wepaytoday.com/mlss/beneficiary using their TRN. For phase two, he said the ministry is moving toward direct bank deposits, supported by field visits and a digital system. A pilot has started in Hanover, with expansion planned within two weeks to Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth and St. James.

He added that about 9,000 assessments had TRN or name-matching issues, and the ministry is working with Tax Administration Jamaica to correct them.