MacMillan

The Financial Investigation Division (FID), the Government agency now under probe after $17 million was discovered missing at the Ministry of Finance this week, is one of the focused areas of Colonel Trevor MacMillan, who was recently appointed as special adviser in that ministry.

"I have asked Colonel Trevor MacMillan to assist me and advise me how he can strengthen that division both in terms of personnel as well as operational efficiency," Minister of Finance, Audley Shaw, told a group of journalists at the annual general meeting of the Used Car Dealers Association, held Thursday night at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston.

Under investigation

The FID is now itself under investigation after $17 million was stolen from its headquarters. The money was being kept as evidence in several cases before the courts.

Shaw

Mr. Shaw said that it was clear that several deficiencies existed at the FID and this led to the disappearance of the money.

The minister also said that the strengthening of the FID would be essential to his anti-corruption drive.

"The role of the FID is going to be very critical to the anti-corruption drive that I am on. The FID is a critical part of our ability to protect the revenues so that we can spend it in much needed areas of Government service," he said.

Shaw, who has asked the Bank of Jamaica to safeguard all remaining funds at the FID, said a report on the incident should be on his desk in a matter of days.