Audit flags possible fraud at JAS
$1.45m diverted to third party by senior manager
GOVERNMENT auditors have raised concerns about possible collusion in the diversion of public funds linked to the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), according to a report tabled in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
The issues are outlined in the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) Audit Committees’ Annual Report FY2024/25, prepared by the Internal Audit Directorate (IAD) in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, which reviewed governance and financial management issues identified across ministries, departments and agencies during the 2024/2025 financial year.
According to the report, internal auditors identified improper payments totalling $1.45 million that were diverted to third parties by a senior manager, raising concerns about possible collusion and the mismanagement of public funds within entities under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, including the Jamaica Agricultural Society.
The report also highlighted weaknesses in financial record-keeping, noting that auditors were unable to account for more than $2.1 million at the Fisheries Division and Castleton Botanical Gardens because of missing documentation including lodgement slips and vouchers.
Audit committees further reported that Government subventions were repeatedly used for purposes other than those intended, while breaches of employment guidelines were also detected within the ministry’s portfolio.
The findings were among a number of issues identified by audit committees during their review of internal audit reports for the financial year ending March 31, 2025.
The ministry paper accompanying the report indicates that the issues identified are part of broader governance weaknesses across several government entities.
It notes that internal control breaches and non-compliance with financial guidelines have resulted in salary overpayments exceeding $200 million and project overruns of more than $136 million across ministries, departments and agencies.
The report also raised concerns about the speed at which ministries respond to audit findings, noting that the timeliness of management responses declined to 33 per cent in the 2024/2025 financial year, down from 52 per cent the previous year.
