ODPEM out of line, underperforms, indicates new Auditor General Report

 

Jamaica’s geographic location and geology makes it vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.




Auditor General (AG) Pamela Monroe Ellis, following the findings of her office on operations at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), is recommending that the agency strengthen its strategic, budgetary, and inventory management processes and also take note of laws relating to its mandate.

ODPEM is the national disaster organization established by statute, responsible for disaster management in Jamaica and for taking action to reduce the impact of disasters and emergencies on Jamaica’s population and economy.

As the secretariat of the National Disaster Risk Management Council, the agency plays a coordinating role in the execution of emergency response and relief operations in major disaster events.

The performance audit was commissioned by the AG to determine whether ODPEM was “effectively managing its resources to advance Jamaica’s disaster preparedness and emergency management capabilities.”

The audit also sought to assess whether ODPEM’s governance and resources management practices were aligned to its strategic objectives.

In the new report tabled in Parliament on December 3, 2024, Ellis said that the audit revealed that for the period 2018-19 to 2023-24, ODPEM “experienced some challenges in the management of its financial, human and physical resources that posed a risk to its ability to effectively plan and respond to emergencies and natural disasters.”

ODPEM is governed by the Disaster Risk Management Act of 2015.  A total annual budget of $1.946 billion for the period 2018-19 to 2022-23.  In the AG’s report, the main findings are that “Weaknesses in ODPEM’s management of its financial, human and physical resources, undermined its ability to achieve, key deliverables that accord with its mandate, in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner.

Notable as well was that strategic and operational plans for 2020-21 to 2022-23 were not approved by the Board “leading to a misalignment of operational budgets.”

The AG also said that the annual reports and financial statements for the period 2018-19 to 2022-23 were not presented in keeping with the Disaster Risk Management Act and PBMA Act.

Further, The AG said “The absence of timely decision making regarding the acquisition of resources contributed to increased costs and delays in the upgrade of key infrastructure and
implementation of an effective inventory management system for relief supplies.”

The report noted that recruitment challenges and high staff turnover impacted ODPEM’s capacity to deliver effective disaster preparedness and emergency management.

In conclusion, Monroe Ellis stated, “Our review of ODPEM’s operations uncovered inefficiencies that jeopardized its ability to fulfil its mandate. Moreover, we identified a disconnect between management and the Board which adversely affected approval of ODPEM’s strategic direction.”

She said that given ODPEM’s pivotal role in coordinating Jamaica’s preparedness and response to natural disasters and emergencies, “alignment between management and the Board is essential to ensure timely implementation of Board decisions in support of its mission and the Government’s policy framework.”

However, ODPEM's records revealed weaknesses in corporate governance practices and the management of financial, human and physical resources, that could undermine its operational capacity to meet its mandate.

Monroe Ellis said that since the submission of the draft report to ODPEM and the Portfolio Ministry, the entity has taken steps to address some of the gaps identified. “However, some deficiencies remain, and I encourage ODPEM to consider my recommendations aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of its emergency management systems,” she stated.

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