The Auditor General’s Department, Jamaica, successfully hosted the 16th annual meeting of the INTOSAI-Donor Cooperation Steering Committee from June 19th to 20th, 2023. This event was held in conjunction with the INTOSAI Capacity Building Committee (CBC) meeting and IFAC MOSIAC, resulting in a week-long series of INTOSAI activities from June 19th to 23rd, focused on the theme “Partnering for stronger Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and enhanced Public Finance Management” (PFM).
During these meetings, esteemed donor partners, heads of supreme audit institutions, and their representatives from around the world convened to discuss SAIs’ role in climate change adaptations and capacity building needs. The level of engagement and collaboration demonstrated during these sessions was truly remarkable.

A notable highlight of the event was the keynote speech delivered at the dinner on Wednesday, June 21st, by Dr. The Hon. Nigel Clarke, DPhil., MP, Minister of Finance, and the Public Service. Minister Clarke warmly welcomed the collective international audit and financial leaders to Jamaica, extolling their contribution to the promotion of aggregate fiscal discipline and good public financial management. He commended the Auditor General’s Department for hosting a series of week-long meetings, which he opined, underscored the international recognition of the department’s work, and emphasized the critical importance of its role in upholding public trust.
Minister Clarke informed that the Ministry of Finance has implemented significant measures to enhance transparency in fiscal, monetary, and governance matters. He praised the Auditor General’s Department for its ongoing collaborations with international bodies in the field of auditing while emphasizing its continued independence.
The successful conclusion of the 16th annual meeting and the accompanying INTOSAI activities in Jamaica marks a significant milestone in advancing auditing practices globally. We extend our sincere appreciation to all participants, organizers, and supporters who contributed to the success of these events.
Let us continue to foster partnerships and work together to strengthen Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and enhance Public Finance Management (PFM) worldwide.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) Honorable Audley Shaw, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Mr. Julian Robertson; ISO Standards Ambassador, Mr. Reginald Budhan. On hand to receive the certificate was Auditor General, Mrs. Pamela Monroe Ellis who was accompanied by members of the Department. Also in attendance were Mrs. Navenia Wellington Ford and Ms. Nikeisha Russell representing the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ) and the World Bank respectively, as well as Commander Michael Rodriguez and other representatives from the MIIC.

The AuGD’s journey to attain ISO 9001:2015 certification commenced in September 2018 and concluded in November 2020 following the completion of the second stage audit. Quality management has been an ethos of the AuGD’s operations and as such the endeavour was fully embraced throughout the organisation. A dedicated team was established to spearhead the implementation and they ensured that all procedures and services executed and offered by the Department were aligned to not only the newly minted quality policy, but also to the Department’s strategic and operational plans. These efforts were expertly guided by the two MIIC consultants who worked with the Department – namely, Dr. Nsombi Jaja who conducted the initial gap assessment, and Commander Michael Rodriguez who assisted with the implementation and adoption of the standard. The Department’s conformity with the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System spans its core audit services, Corporate Services Division, Quality Assurance Unit, and Internal Audit.

The AuGD was commended for the implementation and streamlining of its processes in accordance with the ISO 9001:2015 quality standards, this, as GoJ move to have all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) certified. This also underscored the intention of MIIC to have more entities certified – to strengthen quality management/culture within government entities allowing for greater compliance and having less adverse findings in the reports of “watch-dog” entities. Mrs. Pamela Monroe Ellis, Auditor General, reiterated this view as she thanked the Ministry’s team, the AuGD team as well as the support provided by the IDB and the World Bank – “It is my view that the ISO 9001:2015 quality standard enhances your governance structure to ensure that all resources are engaged meaningfully and efficiently and enable the effective fulfilment of strategic plans and execution of mandates”, said Monroe Ellis. ISO 9001:2015 is an internationally recognised and utlilised Quality Management System that encourages continual improvement of a company’s products and services with intent of meeting both regulatory requirements and customer satisfaction.

In an exposé conducted by the RJR Gleaner Group upon Mrs. Monore Ellis being named top awardee in her respective category, she expressed sincere gratitude for the recognition. In doing so, she emphasised that while she may have won the award, her winning was as a result of the excellent teamwork within the Auditor General’s Department. In underscoring this position, Mrs. Monroe Ellis stated, “This RJR Gleaner Honour Awards means a lot to me because it is a recognition of the work of the members of this Department [AuGD]. It is a recognition that hard work, though presenting its challenges, will eventually at some point in time make its impact and at least be recognised. We can feel satisfied if our audience contributes to change in a meaningful manner.”

The RJR Gleaner Honour Awards is an annual event that recognises and award individuals who made a significant contribution to the Jamaican quality life, whether as an individual or through an office.  A selected panel of independent judges determine the winners in each category.