Anthony Anderson to head NaRRA from June 1

Major General Anthony Anderson is to take over leadership of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority, known as NaRRA, on June 1.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness announced the appointment at Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, saying the selection process had concluded with Anderson being chosen for the role.

Holness said he had kept some distance from the process and was advised only of the outcome. “I was only informed of the end result,” he said, adding that the final decision was to appoint someone who had served Jamaica well.

NaRRA was created under recently passed legislation to act as the Government’s main coordinating agency for reconstruction and resilience work after hurricanes. Its mandate includes cutting red tape and helping projects move more efficiently from planning to delivery.

The Prime Minister also noted that Anderson had already been asked to examine the State’s handling of the response to Hurricane Beryl. That review, he said, covered the agencies involved in the response, with particular attention to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.

Holness said Anderson’s work on that assessment had already placed him close to the issues NaRRA is expected to manage.