KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Auditor General’s Department (AGD) has flagged the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) over its financial management of donated and national disaster funds and the implementation of the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) Programme.

According to the audit report, which was tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday, “weaknesses were found in ODPEM’s financial management, governance and programme accountability”.

It highlighted “limited transparency over Hurricane Melissa relief resources”, noting that of $1.44 billion in cash donations received, only $26.2 million or 1.8 per cent had been spent as of February 23, 2026.

The audit also pointed to inadequate controls over donations processed through a financial services institution, including the absence of a formal agreement for retained funds and incomplete reconciliation.

The AGD said while the ROOFS Programme used emergency procurement, there were gaps in supplier due diligence, delivery verification, payment support and completion documentation, which “reduced assurance that the $167.3 million in materials was fully and appropriately utilised”.

The audit noted that ODPEM is the central agency responsible for emergency response and recovery operations. 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 focused on the financial management of donated funds, the utilisation of the funds to effectively respond to citizens’ needs following Hurricane Melissa and highlights further gaps in the oversight of the National Disaster Fund.