Anthony Anderson to lead NARA as Portia Simpson Miller honoured with western hospital naming

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that Major General Anthony Anderson, Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, will become the first chief executive officer of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority on June 1, after the Governor-General gave assent to the NARA law.

Holness said Anderson’s record as police commissioner, chief of defence staff and national security adviser made him well suited to lead the post-Hurricane Melissa rebuilding body. He said 85 people applied for the job and seven candidates from Jamaica, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom were shortlisted. Anderson has said the authority must move quickly, use technology well and make faster decisions.

Business groups, including the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Association of Jamaica and the Incorporated Master Builders Association of Jamaica, welcomed the appointment while signalling that they will watch NARA’s governance, auditing and contracting arrangements. The People’s National Party said Anderson’s selection does not settle concerns about whether the recruitment process worked properly.

Holness also rejected criticism that NARA gives too much authority to its leadership and the responsible minister, arguing that Jamaica already has accountability systems and should not rebuild those layers for every new agency.

In Parliament, officials said only $230 million of the $1 billion solidarity programme reached more than 11,000 approved applicants, while about $533 million returned to the Consolidated Fund after the financial year ended. The Labour and Social Security Ministry said some funds went to other vulnerable people and that it is seeking the balance for payment.

Police accountability remained under scrutiny after former commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin accused the Government of delaying full use of body-worn cameras. The debate followed the May 17 fatal shooting of 45-year-old Latoya Bulgin during a protest in Granville, St James. Holness said camera systems are being expanded, but require training, storage and connectivity support.

The Court of Appeal overturned a misconduct finding against attorney and Portland Eastern MP Isat Buchanan linked to comments he made in 2020 while representing Vybz Kartel. Separately, the Government is challenging an Integrity Commission demand for Health Ministry employment files in a Jamaica-Cuba eye-care corruption probe.

Other developments included a fatal South Camp Road garage explosion, MegaMart Portmore’s planned June 30 closure, continued grief for Shandale Valentine after the death of her newborn at Cornwall Regional Hospital, Jamaica’s Ebola travel warning for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw’s new four-year Manchester City deal.

Holness further said the Western Children and Adolescent Hospital under construction in Montego Bay will be named for former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. The North Street Labour Ministry building was also renamed in her honour, while another building recognised former Labour Minister Lyndon G. Newland.