By Claudia Gardner:
Former members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) in Hanover say they are in agreement with the decision to appoint Major General Antony Anderson as Chief Executive Officer of the newly established National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), arguing that his appointment places a disciplined, experienced, and technically competent leader at the helm of what is expected to become one of the country’s most powerful development and reconstruction agencies.
The retired military and police leader, who currently serves as the Jamaican Ambassador to the United States, will officially assume the role on June 1, following an announcement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
Horace “Cement Kid” Samuels, former national footballer and ex-JDF sergeant who captained the JDF’s football team to multiple National Premier League titles, told Negril Times that Anderson’s military training and service had equipped him with the exact qualities needed to lead NaRRA during a critical period in Jamaica’s development.
“Major General Anderson is the kind of leader NaRRA needs at this time,” Samuels, a Rusea’s High School old boy said. “He has shown dedication, strong leadership qualities, and a clear vision for progress and unity. His professionalism, experience, and ability to work with people from all backgrounds make him well suited to lead the organization forward.”
Samuels, who served in the First Battalion The Jamaica Regiment (1JR) before retiring as a sergeant, said Anderson’s military background has clearly shaped him into a disciplined and focused leader, which makes him an asset to NaRRA.
“Those qualities are important in leadership, especially when it comes to maintaining structure, accountability, and respect within an organization, a being a military man, he understands the importance of service, commitment, and working together to achieve common goals,” he said, adding that Anderson could help strengthen NaRRA through fairness, teamwork, and accountability.
The Government of Jamaica has indicated that NaRRA will serve as the central coordinating authority for post-hurricane reconstruction and large-scale development, with a mandate to eliminate bureaucracy, reduce fragmentation, and prevent delays in critical projects.
The authority is expected to play a key role in advancing transformative developments across western Jamaica, including the Negril International Airport in Little London, the proposed Negril Urban Centre, and the development of Lucea Harbour into a premium boating destination.
Another ex-JDF soldier Damion Leon, believes Anderson’s résumé makes him ideally suited for the role.
“What people do not understand is that the head of NaRRA has to have a certain background and expertise,” Leon said. “You see, because it’s going to be so much money and so much projects going on at the same time, you need a level-headed person and somebody who knows how to exercise control.”
Leon pointed to Anderson’s leadership experience in both the JDF and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, as well as his academic training in mechanical engineering, noting that Anderson’s fundamental role would be to coordinate highly skilled professionals and technocrats while ensuring that projects remain organized and on schedule.
“The man résumé very impressive. He has commanded large numbers of people at both JDF and JCF, so this is almost a cakewalk for him,” Leon told Negril Times.
Military officers have often been selected to lead reconstruction and resilience authorities around the world, particularly after major disasters. Governments frequently rely on former military leaders because of their expertise in logistics, disaster response, strategic planning, accountability, and rapid mobilization.
Like Jamaica, countries such as Japan, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan, Australia, India, and the United States have all established similar reconstruction authorities or centralized recovery agencies following earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, or other national crises.
Ex-soldier Alva Frazer, who served in the 1970s, also welcomed the appointment and suggested that Anderson should consider incorporating more retired military personnel into NaRRA’s operations.
“It’s a good look,” Frazer said. “I think he is the right fit. If he gets the right people behind him, it is a wise move. It is a very smart move, as soldiers have the discipline and behaviour and tolerance which is very important to the job and the job description.”
Anderson currently serves as Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States. Prior to his diplomatic posting, he served as Commissioner of Police from 2018 to 2024, National Security Advisor from 2016 to 2018, and Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force from 2010 to 2016.
A past student of Calabar High School and the former College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST), now University of Technology (UTech), Anderson enlisted in the JDF in 1984 and trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England.
He also holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree and a Master’s degree in Defence Administration from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Holness, in announcing his appointment on Wednesday, had said Anderson had successfully transformed two of Jamaica’s most important institutions — the JDF and the JCF — and expressed confidence in his ability to lead NaRRA into a new era of national development and resilience
