KINGSTON, Jamaica—A real-time audit of the Government’s Hurricane Melissa Relief Initiative has uncovered glaring weaknesses in the procurement practices at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

The audit, which was conducted by the Auditor General’s Department (AuGD), also found that dozens of Starlink devices that were purchased to ensure connectivity in the hardest-hit parishes were never delivered but remained in storage.

The audit, which focused on governance, oversight, and the receipt and distribution processes for Starlink devices, was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

It sought to examine whether ODPEM effectively ensured the transparency and accountability of resources received and utilised under the Hurricane Melissa Relief Initiative. In addition, the audit evaluated the adequacy of internal control systems designed to prevent and detect potential fraud, waste, and abuse of public resources during disaster response and recovery activities.

The report covers the oversight responsibilities of the National Disaster Fund Committee (NDFC), procurement activities from the National Disaster Fund (NDF), acquisition and distribution of Starlink devices and inventory and stores management.

The AuGD said data provided by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MoFPS), show that a total of 420 contracts have been awarded in response to Hurricane Melissa, amounting to $11.13 billion.

The report analyses the procurement activities conducted by ODPEM utilising the $350 million authorised for withdrawal from the NDF. According to the AuGD, ODPEM has so far drawn down $207 million from the fund.

Among its key findings, the audit highlights that the

NDFC did not effectively oversee the management of the NDF.

“The committee mandated to provide policy oversight, general administration, and effective management of the NDF, convened only twice during its tenure, with the last meeting held in June 2022,” the report stated.

It noted that the committee was appointed in September 2020, and its term expired in September 2023. “However, as at December 2025, there was no evidence of any new appointments, indicating non‐compliance with the requirements of the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Act”.

The report also found that the National Disaster Fund Guidelines document, which is intended to support the administration of the NDF, remained in draft as at December 2025.

In its response to the auditor general last month, ODPEM stated that it “will make the necessary representation to the MoFPS, regarding the appointment of a new Fund Committee, and will conclude its review of the draft committee guidelines no later than January 30, 2026…” ODPEM committed to submit same for signature by the appropriate authority.

Of note is that section 40 of the DRM Act requires the financial secretary to approve withdrawals from the NDF after consulting the NDFC. However, at the time the director general of ODPEM requested $350 million for Hurricane Melissa relief efforts, no committee had been appointed. The financial secretary subsequently approved the withdrawal of the $350 million from the NDF.

The director general of ODPEM submitted the withdrawal request, acting in the capacity of secretary to the National Disaster Risk Management Council, to support critical relief activities, including food distribution, municipal supplies, and National Emergency Operations
Centre operations in the wake of Hurricane Melissa on October 28 last year.

Meanwhile, the audit found that 200 Starlink devices were purchased at a cost of $12.12 million. The procurement was initiated by way of a ministerial instruction and not by ODPEM’s Director General, contravening the Public Procurement Act 2015. The Act assigns direct responsibility for all procurement activities to the Head of the Procuring Entity.

“Our review of correspondences revealed that the procurement activity was initiated by a letter from the Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications (Daryl Vaz) in his capacity as the co-chair of the Relief and Recovery Oversight Committee on November 13, 2025, to the attention of the
director general for payment to be made by ODPEM for the 200 devices to supplier number one…”

The AuGD stressed that only the Head of the Entity is legally empowered to initiate procurement, and there is no provision under the Public Procurement Act that allows the minister to approve or initiate commitments, to select suppliers or vendors or to give any directive to ODPEM as to which supplier to pay.

The Starlink devices were delivered to the Office of the Commissioner of Police on November 14, 2025. However, ODPEM began preparing the required procurement documentation on November 19, 2025, five days subsequent to delivery.

“Our review determined that 120 devices were distributed among 17 entities; of these, 13 entities confirmed receipt of a total of 86 devices. Physical inspections conducted at eight entities revealed all 41 issued devices remained unused and in storage,” said the report.

The audit also found that food items, tarpaulin, and water purchased at a total cost of $59.6 million were not recorded in ODPEM’s inventory or stores records. It said ODPEM “lacked an effective system for accurately recording, tracking, and periodically reconciling goods and assets acquired, which is essential to ensure accountability, sound management oversight, and reliable financial reporting”.

The AuGD has recommended that:

● The Cabinet, on the advice of the minister, take urgent steps to appoint the National Disaster Fund Committee to ensure full compliance with the DRM Act

● ODPEM takes steps to improve inventory management and transparency.

●ODPEM should immediately implement a structured deployment and activation plan for all Starlink devices acquired for emergency response operations.

● ODPEM must ensure that all Starlink devices are properly recorded in the inventory management system, with regular reconciliations to confirm their physical location and operational status.

-Lynford Simpson