Gov’t defends $40m salary for NaRRA CEO

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Government has moved to provide clarification regarding the remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Antony Anderson.

In a statement on Friday, the Government said 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.

"Ambassador Anderson is being paid a basic salary of 40 million dollars. With respect to benefits, the housing allowance was not offered as that benefit was only offered to candidates relocating to Jamaica. The only benefits provided to the CEO are an assigned motor vehicle and 25 per cent gratuity subject to performance.

NaRRA is not an ordinary administrative agency. It has been established to lead and coordinate a major national reconstruction and resilience programme following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Its 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 public resources," it said.

According to the Government, the remuneration was determined in relation to the requirements of the office and the mandate of the entity.

"Importantly, the remuneration established for the CEO of NaRRA is closely aligned with that of the chief executives of Jamaica's larger public bodies such as the National Housing Trust (NHT) and the Port Authority of Jamaica, taking into consideration the scale, complexity and responsibilities associated with the position. The job description and compensation were also internationally benchmarked," it said.

The Government said it will hold the CEO of NaRRA accountable and the salary reflects the expected performance of the CEO.

"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 is important that remuneration for such positions reflect the responsibilities of the office and is sufficiently competitive to attract suitably qualified and experienced professionals," it added.