FAQs

In January 2018, JAMP received initial seed funding from nine (9) private sector sponsors, namely, National Baking Company, Victoria Mutual Group, GB Group, ICD Group, Sagicor Group, Jamaica Broilers Group of Companies, JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, JN Bank, and WISYNCO.

Funding for the project is now provided through a grant from the European Union (EU) as a part of their continued commitment to the development of Jamaica and its people. Funding began in July 2019 and will run through to July 2022.

JAMP was recently award funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for a project slated to run from November 2019 to April 2020 in partnership with the UWI Community Film Project.

There is a donation button on the page that allows for donations from members of the public.

JAMP’s focuses its research on reports provided by the Government’s “watchdog” agencies. We have started the process using the work of the Auditor General’s Department (AGD). This was influenced by the range and coverage of the public sector audits done by the Department, the ease of access to reports via their website and the ease of understanding the reports. We will be including reports from agencies such as: the Integrity Commission and the Major Organised Anti-Corruption Agency, etc.

In selecting the breaches to track, we pull from the reports the breaches that:

• Are consistently recurring in a Government institution from year to year
• Speak to excessive loss of funds to the public purse.
• Or point to a budding problem that needs to be corrected early
• Are generated public interest

If there is one you have an interest in, that we are not tracking please let us know.

Every citizen can help – and JAMP has created a variety of ways for you to get involved in the fight for greater accountability and improved financial management in Government. JAMP thanks all friends, supporters and donors.

• SUBSCRIBE to stay informed
• CONTACT your Member of Parliament directly re: policies and issues
• VOLUNTEER your time and skills
• ATTEND our upcoming events/activities.
• GIVE generously
• SHARE DIGITALLY our message via social media
• ASK A QUESTION on our website
• INVITE US TO SHARE present to your Club, Citizen association etc.
• Promote your own CALL TO ACTION through a press release, open letter to the government, letter to the newspaper, a petition, a protest or any other.

It lies at the very heart of proper governance. It is the obligation of public agencies and enterprises who have been trusted with public resources, to answer for the financial and social responsibilities that have been assigned to them.

The act of holding someone accountable can be divided into two. ‘Calling to account’ occurs first and that involves the public official providing an explanation of what has been done or not done, and why. ‘Holding to account’

Public sector accountability is not led by any one agency but a range of entities, agencies, and institutions. Here in Jamaica those include but is not limited to:- the Auditor General’s Department, the National Integrity Commission, Independent Commission of Investigations, Major Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption, Office of the Public Defender, Parliament and its oversight sub-committees (Public Accounts Committee and the Public Administrative and Appropriations Committee) Permanent Secretaries, Board of Directors, Financial Secretary and civil society groups (Jamaicans for Justice, National Integrity Action, Jamaica Environmental Trust etc.

The Auditor General’s Department is governed under the Financial Administration and Audit Act which requires the Auditor General to submit all reports to the Parliament through the Speaker of the House. The Act speaks specifically to the annual report being submitted to the Parliament no later than December 31 of

each year. This report covers the findings of the Department for the previous financial year.

Remember that any document tabled in the Parliament become available for access for any citizen of the country.

No.

To give assurance on the effectiveness of internal controls, risk management and overall governance at national and county government; b) undertake audit activities in state organs and public entities to confirm whether or not public money has been applied lawfully and in an effective way; c) satisfy himself or herself that all public money has been used and applied to the purposes intended d) confirm that all reasonable precautions have been taken to safeguard the collection of revenue and the acquisition, receipt, issuance and proper use of assets and liabilities; and e) issue an audit report in accordance with Article 229 of the Constitution; f) provide any other reports as may be required under Article 254 of the Constitution.