Antony Anderson Says NaRRA Role Can Help Drive Jamaica’s Resilience Agenda

Jamaica’s departing Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Major General (Ret’d) Antony Anderson, says he is pleased to be taking up the post of Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) on June 1.

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, announced the appointment on Wednesday, May 27.

Ambassador Anderson said the authority could become an important vehicle for reshaping how Jamaica prepares for shocks, competes internationally and advances its development priorities over the long term.

“If executed effectively, NaRRA has the potential to fundamentally strengthen Jamaica’s resilience architecture and accelerate national development outcomes. This is an opportunity to shape a more agile, resilient, and future-ready Jamaica,” he stated.

He shared news of the appointment with employees at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington DC during a staff meeting on Wednesday.

Ambassador Anderson said Jamaica’s continued movement towards sustainable growth and stronger global competitiveness will require greater attention to efficiency, new ideas and quicker methods for planning and carrying out development work.

Pointing to examples such as Singapore and Bahrain, the incoming NaRRA head said Jamaica has to place more emphasis on pace, productivity and the ability to scale operations in both the public and private sectors.

“The countries that will succeed in this era are those that are able to adapt quickly, leverage technology effectively, and make smarter, faster decisions. For Jamaica, resilience and development must increasingly be supported by innovation, digital tools, predictive analytics, and more agile systems of execution. These are capabilities that can significantly enhance national development outcomes and strengthen the effectiveness of institutions such as NaRRA,” Ambassador Anderson stated.

Ambassador Anderson, who previously served as Chief of Defence Staff, National Security Advisor and Police Commissioner, arrived in Washington DC on May 28, 2025, to begin his assignment as Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States.

Looking back on his year in the diplomatic post, he called the period “full and busy”. He pointed to developments in Jamaica–US bilateral relations, continuing discussions on the multilateral system within the Organization of American States (OAS), where he represented Jamaica as Permanent Representative, and deeper engagement by the Jamaican Diaspora.

He also thanked the Embassy team for its support and dedication during his time there, while urging staff members to stay disciplined and focused in carrying out their duties.