Anthony Anderson named NAR chief as Jamaica reconstruction agency becomes law

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that Major General Anthony Anderson will become chief executive officer of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Agency, after the NAR legislation received royal assent and formally became law.

Holness made the announcement at a special post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Anderson, Jamaica’s current ambassador to the United States, is a former commissioner of police and former chief of defence staff. His appointment takes effect on June 1.

The prime minister said the recruitment process drew 120 applications, including 85 specifically for the CEO post. Seven candidates were shortlisted, three Jamaicans and four international applicants from countries including Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Holness said the final selection was handled by a panel that included Public Service Commission chairman Pat Sinclair McCalla, Cabinet Secretary Audrey Sewell, Maria Thompson Walters of the Transformation Implementation Unit, Professor Gordon Shirley and Stephen Edwards.

Holness said Anderson’s experience leading the Jamaica Defence Force and Jamaica Constabulary Force, and his work reviewing the state’s response to Hurricane Beryl, placed him close to the issues NAR must now tackle. He said the office should be judged by delivery, calling Anderson the country’s “chief executing officer”.

The Cabinet also reviewed an initial list of NAR projects, which Holness said should be published within about a week. The Government is also expected to release the terms of reference and membership of the Jamaica Reconstruction and Resilience Oversight Committee.

Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr said more than 116,000 household assessments have been completed under hurricane recovery efforts. About 45,000 verified households were placed in phase one of the ROOFS programme, with more than 80 per cent already receiving vouchers, text messages, cash or material support.

Charles said beneficiaries still unresolved in phase one can check their status through wepaytoday.com/mlss/beneficiary using their TRN. For phase two, he said the Government is moving toward direct deposits, beginning with an in-field pilot in Hanover before expanding within two weeks to Westmoreland, St Elizabeth and St James.

He also said roughly 9,000 assessments had TRN or name discrepancies, and the Tax Administration Jamaica team is working to correct those records within two weeks.