The Miami Herald is reporting that Jamaica's National Works Agency is under fire for "glaring irregularities" in its financial management. The agency, which is already undergoing an independent investigation for alleged mismanagement of a stalled $400 million roads project, appears to have been storing unauthorized office furniture in five 40-foot containers to the tune of $720,000.
The Miami Herald reports, "Contractor General Greg Christie's staff is investigating the National Works Agency for its purchase of $720,000 worth of new office furniture using contract funds from the renovation of a narrow strip of shore road leading to Kingston's international airport."
David McFadden of the Associated Press writes:
Earlier this month, Jamaica's auditor general raised numerous concerns about deficiencies in the agency's program planning, record keeping, quality control and monitoring of a sprawling $400 million road program mostly funded with loans from China that has stalled under a cloud of alleged mismanagement.
Among the breaches identified, Auditor General Pamela Munroe Ellis uncovered the apparent siphoning of $1.2 million by the National Works Agency to renovate its headquarters without the approval of the island's contracts commission.
Can you say "closed"? How government agencies in any country are allowed to engage in criminal behavior to this extent is ridiculous. There is a reason the term "shuttered" exists. This is a clear example of an agency that is out of control and needs to be dismantled at best. Uncovering and publicizing the corruption is one thing, but allowing it to continue is something else.
Read more at the Miami Herald.