In progress – Auditor General's Department

Procurement of Buses for the Rural School Bus Programme

Andre Allen — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:42:26 +0000

The Ministry of Energy, Transport & Telecommunications (METT) holds portfolio responsibility for a range of agencies and departments. These entities operate across the nation’s energy, telecommunications, and transport sectors, reflecting METT’s expansive mandate and pivotal role in facilitating national development within these critical areas. In relation to the transport sector, school buses were procured under the Government’s National Rural School Bus Programme, ahead of the reopening of schools for the 2025/26 academic year.

In response to numerous stakeholder representations to the Auditor General’s Department and media reports regarding the acquisition of 110 school buses by the METT, a preliminary assessment was undertaken to evaluate the credibility of the claims and to determine whether there was sufficient justification to initiate a formal audit. The special audit was subsequently commissioned to determine whether the procurement and contracts management practices complied with the applicable laws, regulations, policies, guidelines and guidance notes governing public procurement in Jamaica, to attain value for money.

We value your relevant comments to our audit which can be communicated by completing the relevant fields on our feedback form or email us at audgen@auditorgeneral.gov.jm. Please note that due to the volume of information received, we may not respond to you directly; however, we thank you in advance for your response.

Procurement of Neurosurgical Drill for The Bustamante Hospital for Children

Andre Allen — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:30:58 +0000

The South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) is tasked with managing and supervising the delivery of public health services across the southeastern parishes of Jamaica. Among the facilities under its jurisdiction is the Bustamante Hospital for Children, recognized as Jamaica’s national pediatric referral hospital. The Bustamante Hospital for Children requires essential medical equipment and supplies to ensure it operates efficiently and is able to meet the healthcare needs of children islandwide. The availability and proper functioning of these resources are critical to providing quality care and maintaining effective hospital operations.

In response to stakeholder allegations, complaints and concerns regarding the procurement of a neurosurgical Drill for the Bustamante Hospital for Children by the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), a preliminary assessment was undertaken to evaluate the credibility of the claims and to determine whether there was sufficient justification to initiate a formal audit. The special audit was subsequently commissioned to determine whether the procurement and contracts management practices accorded with the applicable laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines governing public procurement in Jamaica, to attain value for money. The audit will further assess whether adequate procurement planning, due diligence, and evaluation procedures were applied, and whether the decision-making process underpinning the selection of the supplier and the equipment procured was properly documented, supported, and justified.

We value your relevant comments to this audit, which may be communicated by completing the relevant fields on our feedback form or by emailing us at audgen@auditorgeneral.gov.jm. Please note that due to the volume of information received, we may not be able to respond directly; however, we thank you in advance for your contribution.

Hurricane Melissa Relief Initiative

Shavonne Drysdale — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:07:37 +0000

On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm causing catastrophic damage on the island, particularly in western parishes. In response, the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) has launched various initiatives including supportjamaica.gov.jm as the central hub for public donations and volunteer registration. Along with expected GoJ budgetary allocation, foreign governments and multilateral agencies have pledged funding and humanitarian aid to Jamaica, including provision of relief supplies.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is a statutory body under the Office of the Prime Minister (previously under the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development). ODPEM serves as the secretariat to the National Disaster Risk Management Council (NDRMC) and has overarching responsibility for disaster risk management across Jamaica. Under the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Act, ODPEM is mandated to promote and coordinate disaster preparedness and emergency response by developing and implementing integrated management systems nationwide.

The main objective of the real-time audit is to assess the transparency and accountability of resources received and utilised under the Hurricane Melissa Relief Initiative. Specifically, the audit seeks to determine whether internal controls are adequate to prevent any potential fraud, waste and abuse of public resources during disaster response and recovery, by assessing whether; (a) proper IT controls exist over www.supportjamaica.gov.jm website, (b) proper accounting and record keeping of all donations (including funds and supplies) received and distributed to affected individuals by the GoJ, and (c) procurement activities complied with the applicable laws, regulations and guidelines. The audit will be planned and conducted in accordance with the Guidance on Auditing Disaster Management (GUID 5330), issued by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) along with applicable AuGD’s Audit Manual and Auditing Standards.