The government is defending the $40 million salary of the head of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority, NaRRA, Major General Retired Antony Anderson.

That’s according to a statement Friday evening from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The $40 million comprises his basic annual pay only.

The government says his only other benefits are an assigned motor vehicle and a gratuity of 25 per cent, subject to performance.

It says a housing allowance of up to $3.5 million was not offered to him, as that benefit was available only to candidates relocating to Jamaica.

According to the government, the post and its pay were scoped by technical officers in the finance ministry’s Transformation Implementation Unit before recruitment began, and were benchmarked internationally.

It says the package is closely aligned with what is paid to the heads of large public bodies such as the National Housing Trust and the Port Authority of Jamaica.

The government argues that NaRRA is not an ordinary agency, as it is leading the national rebuilding programme after Hurricane Melissa, including major infrastructure projects and work with international development partners.

It says the chief executive will be held accountable, and that the salary reflects the performance expected of him.

Major General Anderson took up the post on June 1.