October 10, 2026

Gov’t defends $40M annual salary for NaRRa’s CEO

The Government has sought to defend the $40 million annual salary for the position of Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) following the revelation yesterday.

It argued that every expenditure associated with the authority is justified by its contribution to the national reconstruction effort.

The CEO is Major General (Retired) Antony Anderson.

A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister explained that the position of CEO including its responsibilities, requirements and remuneration was scoped and established by the technical officers in the Transformation Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Public Service before the recruitment process commenced.

OPM said the remuneration was determined in relation to the requirements of the office and the mandate of the entity.

It said the remuneration established for NaRRA’s CEO is closely aligned with that of chief executives at larger public bodies, such as the National Housing Trust (NHT) and the Port Authority of Jamaica.

This takes into consideration the scale, complexity and responsibilities associated with the position.

It said the job description and compensation were also internationally benchmarked.

OPM said Ambassador Anderson is being paid a basic salary of $40 million with no housing benefits.

It said the CEO position is assigned a motor vehicle and 25% gratuity subject to performance.

OPM said NaRRA is conceived to be an extraordinary implementation agency, adding that it has been established to lead a major national reconstruction and resilience programme following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

It said NaRRA’s mandate involves the implementation of significant infrastructure projects, coordination across multiple government entities, engagement with international development partners and the management of complex programmes involving substantial resources.

NaRRA will undertake the largest public infrastructure development programme in Jamaica’s history within a defined period of time.

OPM said the salary is commensurate with the responsibilities and rightly the expectation of performance is high.

It said it welcomes public interest and support in holding the CEO and NaRRA to account for deliverables.

OPM said the leadership of an institution carrying responsibilities of this magnitude requires a high level of technical competence, executive experience, sound financial management, strategic oversight and the capacity to deliver results within demanding timelines.

It said remuneration for such positions reflects the responsibilities of the office and is sufficiently competitive to attract suitably qualified and experienced professionals.

The Government said it remains committed to ensuring that NaRRA delivers value for money on behalf of the people of Jamaica.