Auditor General Reveals Millions in Questionable Spending at the Jamaica Fire Brigade

A performance audit report by Auditor General Pamela Munroe Ellis’ office, has disclosed questionable spending at the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

The report which was tabled in the House of Representatives this afternoon, has also painted a picture of a weak and unprepared emergency response service.

More from Abka Fitz-Henley on this report:

More than 6-million of that amount was spent on storing the units which are intended to conduct rescue operations at sea.

Only 2-point-8 million dollars was dedicated to carrying out actual repairs.

However, the Auditor General noted that despite the multi-million dollar expenditure, the defective fire boats were all disposed of this year.

According to the AG’s Department, in April of this year, the Fire Brigade obtained permission from the Ministry of Finance to dispose of the boats it had recently spent over 9-million dollars of tax payers money on to store and repair.

Mrs. Munroe Ellis’ office also reported to Parliament that the fire brigade currently does not have any fire boats to carry out emergency rescue operations.

The report from the Auditor General notes that only one fire boat is currently at the pier in the tourist resort of Ocho Rios. But that boat has been out of service since last year due to engine failure.

And the Auditor General says the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s emergency medical service is also badly affected by a shortage of ambulances.

Mrs. Munroe Ellis also says the Fire Brigade is not assessing its timeliness in responding to fires.

The report says 36-percent of the Fire Brigade’s emergency vehicle fleet is currently out of service.

The AG has also viagra pills stated that the Fire Brigade has not been executing its duty to conduct follow-up operations to ensure that owners of buildings are adhering to fire safety standards.

Mrs. Munroe Ellis has recommended that the Jamaica Fire Brigade correct this breach.