OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Several councillors in St Ann are up in arms over money they claimed has disappeared from their accounts even though programmes the funds are intended for have not yet been undertaken.

At least two Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillors have called for an audit of the financial status of the St Ann Parish Council. They want to know how $2 million, which was allocated to the local authority to truck water to drought-stricken communities here, has been spent.

According to Neville Williams, JLP councillor for the Ocho Rios Division, there is a lack of accountability at the council and he wants an explanation.

“I need to know where that money is. I need to know where the $60,000 that was allocated to the people of Ocho Rios to truck water to them is, and I need to know why it’s not in my account,” Williams told the general council meeting Thursday.

Williams was one of several councillors who questioned the Council’s financial status at the meeting regarding money they claimed they were told was available in councillors’ account for various projects.

“What I am being told is that the money has been spent, there is no money in my account. If this is the case, I am really disappointed that nobody can account for this money,” Williams argued, pointing out that money shouldn’t be spent without prior knowledge and approval from the councillor.

Chairman of the council and Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Ivan Anderson has instructed that an investigation be done to determine the status of the funds in question.

Anderson also asked that an investigation be done on the Special Grant Repair (SGR) Fund, from which he said money should be withdrawn only for emergency purposes.

“I need a breakdown of all the spending under the SGR fund from January until June, because I need to know how much money is in this account and if it’s being used for the intended purpose,” Anderson said.

At the same time, JLP councillor for the Exchange Division, Delroy Giscombe, said an audit was needed to determine how funds allocated for various projects are being spent. He also expressed concerns about the manner in which the programme was implemented.

He lamented that no proper system was put in place for councillors to adequately monitor the trucking of water to the different communities since private water trucks were used to deliver water.

In the meantime, People’s National Party councillor for the Claremont Division, Lambert Weir, expressed disappointment over the Council’s failure to advise him about the status of funds, which were set aside for projects in his division under the hurricane relief programme.

Weir said when he took over as councillor for the division in 2007, over $400,000 was in the hurricane relief account for his constituents.

He explained that approximately $271,000 was added afterward, but that efforts by him to have the council explain the true status of the account had been unsuccessful.

Weir said he was hoping to acquire a portion of the funds to assist with the renovation of the Golden Grove community centre, which was damaged by hurricane and which is expected to be opened next week.

Mayor Anderson added that a report will be presented to the Finance Committee of the council next week.