No probe yet into KSAMC misuse claims, say two key agencies
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:31 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
Two of Jamaica’s key anti-corruption agencies have stated that no investigation is under way into allegations of misused taxpayer funds at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) despite one agency reviewing a report on the claim.
Major Basil Jarrett, communications director at the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, told The Gleaner on Thursday that the state entity is aware of the discourse around the matter and that an “unofficial” report reached the agency “in recent days”.
“We are doing our assessment, and until we have made our determination of how to move forward, there is not much more we are able to say at this point. We are doing an assessment of the report we received, and based on that assessment, we will then determine if an investigation is warranted,” said Jarrett.
Further, The Gleaner contacted the Financial Investigations Division (FID), which was formed to deter the use of Jamaica’s economy for money laundering and other financial crimes. The agency said no referral had been made concerning the allegation.
“At this point, no referral has been made to the FID to conduct or support any investigation in relation to KSAMC,” the FID said.
The Integrity Commission declined to comment when asked by The Gleaner whether it had received any complaint or report about the allegation.
Yesterday, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) communications task force member Marlon Morgan said the party had been apprised, based on a media report, that two anti-corruption bodies were “attending upon this matter”.
“No disclosure has come from those authorities as yet. They are, however, the competent authorities in relation to undertaking a detailed, professional, and comprehensive probe into a matter such as this, and we trust that at an appropriate juncture, a disclosure will be made by those respective anti-corruption investigating bodies as to the progress of their investigations and, of course, to just confirm to the public that they are, in fact, embarked on a probe,” Morgan said at a press conference at the JLP’s Belmont Road headquarters in New Kingston.
The JLP has accused members of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) of using public funds from the KSAMC to run its election campaign, including those of its caretaker candidates.
It followed a media report which implicated senior PNP members in the alleged misuse of the money. The report was based on WhatsApp conversations.
Yesterday, the ruling party urged Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis to audit all municipal corporations chaired by PNP representatives, alleging widespread corruption at these entities.
Further, the JLP called on Monroe Ellis to focus on the KSAMC amid the allegation.
Morgan claimed that there was an “emerging trend of malfeasance and apparent systemic corrupt and inappropriate use of taxpayers’ money at PNP-controlled municipal corporations”.
In the same breath, he said civil society bodies have remained silent on the matter, which has been in the public domain for almost a week.
In a media release yesterday, the PNP rejected as “baseless and defamatory” what it said are JLP attacks on its senior members, calling them a “desperate attempt to mislead Jamaicans and distract from the Government’s corruption scandals”.
The PNP said the JLP is running a smear campaign and that it would take legal action to end it.
The party called on the JLP to submit any legitimate evidence it has to law enforcement authorities or otherwise “cease these defamatory attacks immediately”.
“We also call on law-enforcement agencies to clarify whether any investigation is indeed under way. If such an investigation exists, those involved should be informed through due process rather than subjected to the JLP’s political theatre,” the party said.