KINGSTON, Jamaica — With what could be described as a widespread misinterpretation of the use of the term “unaccounted for”, the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) has withdrawn its use and is instead stating that Auditor General reports over the last 11 years indicate that financial reports for some $3 trillion of public funds are outstanding.

In a statement on Friday, JAMP said the public should note that without submission of the required reports, no audit is possible and as such no verification of accuracy, compliance with laws, abuse or loss of funds can be conducted.

The body noted that it had stated and explained from the very beginning that the use of “unaccounted for” did not mean that funds were missing but was highlighting the multi-year failure of some ministries and departments to submit annual appropriation accounts as required by the Financial Administration and Audit Act.

Notwithstanding this along with further efforts in interviews to provide greater clarity, JAMP said the misinterpretation persists and continues to distract from the substantive issues needing to be addressed. It therefore retracted the use of the term.

The body said it will revise the heading of its letter to Parliament  to read “Three Trillion Dollars+ of Appropriation Accounts Outstanding”.