Auditor General Pamela Munroe Ellis, has raised concerns over the human resource practices of the Transport Authority.
Among the concerns are the hiring of the Managing Director and other members of staff contrary to established HR practices.
The findings form part of a special audit of the Transport Authority tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Mahiri Stewart tells us more.
According to the 19-page report, a special audit was triggered after an anonymous whistleblower raised concerns over the Transport Authority’s human resources and procurement practices.
In one instance in March 2020, the Authority made a payment of approximately eleven and a half million dollars to a contract officer who was purportedly terminated.
The Auditor General says the termination letter did not set out the reason for separation.
However, the AG’s Department says it was aware that the said officer at the time of separation, December 31, 2019, had already signed a contract with the Jamaica Ultimate Tire Company with an effective start date of January 1, 2020.
The report found that the Transport Authority’s Chairman authorised the payment for time not served on the contract.
The same Officer was then reappointed to the Transport Authority to Act in a higher post as Managing Director.
The Auditor General says there was no need to make the separation payment.
Further, the same Officer was temporarily appointed for a period of 90 days and engaged for three years without the utilisation of a competitive process to fill the position.
In a response dated July 11, 2022, the Transport Authority told the Auditor General that the said Managing Director was issued with the wrong contract and a new one would be issued.
The Auditor General also found a total of forty staff positions not approved by the Ministry of Finance and three senior management posts similarly not approved by the Ministry.
In response, the Transport Authority said it was in the process of seeking approval for the posts from the Ministry.
It says corrective action has been taken and all new contracts have been approved by the Finance Ministry.
However, the Auditor General’s report says it could find no evidence to substantiate a claim that an employee was still receiving a salary nine months after separation.
Nor did the investigation find evidence to substantiate allegations that an employee of the Authority was awarded contracts from the entity.
According to the Auditor General, further allegations of corruption could not be substantiated due to a lack of resources.
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