THE Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) says it remains committed to ensuring that all relief resources placed under its stewardship are managed transparently, responsibly, and in accordance with the Government of Jamaica’s public financial management requirements.

In a statement last evening acknowledging the observations and recommendations contained in the Auditor General’s Hurricane Melissa Relief Initiative Audit Report tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, ODPEM said it recognises the importance of strengthening governance, inventory management, procurement administration, delivery verification, documentation, and reporting arrangements associated with national disaster response and recovery operations.

“The agency notes that the period under review covers an unprecedented post-disaster operating environment, in which urgent national relief, shelter support, logistics co-ordination and recovery activities were being undertaken simultaneously across several affected parishes,” it said.

In relation to the utilisation of donated disaster relief funds, ODPEM advised that funds received in response to Hurricane Melissa were intended to support national relief interventions to support the Shelter Recovery Programme.

“In February 2026, ODPEM formally sought approval for the regularisation of funds donated in response to Hurricane Melissa, in keeping with the Government of Jamaica’s public financial management, accountability and reporting requirements. This was necessary to ensure that the donated funds were properly treated as public monies, and incorporated into the approved budgetary framework before further expenditure could be undertaken,” it said.

“ODPEM had also indicated its intention to utilise approximately $500 million of the regularised funds to support Government and partner-led repair initiatives under the Shelter Recovery Programme, together with other approved relief and recovery projects, including those aligned to donor intent where applicable…”

It said the pace of expenditure must therefore be understood within this wider context.

“The relatively low rate of cash expenditure from the donated funds was not due to inaction or a lack of recovery activity,” ODPEM said. “Rather, it reflected prudent financial management in light of the availability of almost $400 million in donated building materials and sundries, which were already supporting the Government-directed roof repair programme.”

ODPEM said the availability of these in-kind materials reduced the immediate demand for additional cash-funded purchases of similar building supplies, and it sought to avoid unnecessary or duplicative expenditure from the donated funds, preserving those resources for other approved recovery priorities.

“To date, approximately $135 million has been expended from the fund in support of the roof repair programme. Some 461 roof repairs have already been completed…,” it said.

ODPEM said as the post-Hurricane Melissa recovery programme continues to transition from structured recovery and reconstruction, $600 million from the donated funds has been earmarked to support the Shelter Recovery Programme through the Rapidly Deployable Modular Housing Solutions Programme.

“…ODPEM views the Auditor General’s report as an important opportunity to strengthen institutional systems and improve the administration of national disaster relief and recovery activities,” the agency said.

“The agency remains committed to full cooperation with the Auditor General’s Department, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Prime Minister, Parliament, and all relevant oversight bodies in addressing the recommendations made.”