Rocky Meade appointed Cabinet Secretary

Lieutenant General Rocky Meade, former Chief of Defence Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, is Jamaica's new Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service.

His appointment was announced on Tuesday morning by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who observed that his years of experience in the government service "will be an asset to the public service and a crucial part of our continued thrust to efficiency and service excellence."

Meade will succeed Ambassador Stewart Saunders who has been in the post since 2008.

Commenting on the confirmation of his appointment, Meade pledged to "further the positive evolution of the public service for the benefit of the wider society."

One of General Meade's recent predecessors as army chief, Major General Stewart Saunders, went on to serve as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security.