Williams

EXECUTIVES OF the Jamaica Fire Brigade were hauled over the coals yesterday by a no-nonsense chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Dr Omar Davies, for breaching the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act and for their failure to implement proper checks and balances in the operation of the service.

Laurie Williams, commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, struggled to explain shortcomings in the operations of the brigade.

He and other executives from the brigade were appearing before the PAC to answer concerns raised by the auditor general in her 2007/2008 report.

In particular, the brigade's financial statements for at least two years were not ready and, therefore, could not be reviewed by the auditor general.

Williams told PAC members that the outstanding financial statement for 2003/2004 would not be ready until September, as the external auditor could not complete it before that date.

He said the auditing firm, one of the largest in the country, was unable to assign more than one auditor to audit the books of the brigade.

Demanded urgent completion

However, PAC members dismissed that explanation, demanding an urgent completion of the statement.

"We are united in our dissatisfaction," Davies told Williams.

The head of the fire service pledged that the brigade would work assiduously to ensure that the process was completed in a shorter period.

"Would it surprise you to hear that I expected you to do this as your normal modus operandi?" Davies queried, giving the brigade a May 31 ultimatum to complete the statement.

Cashed cheques amounting to nearly $50 million, drawn on the brigade's accounts for the period 2002 to 2007 but not returned by the bank, also raised eyebrows.

Auditor General Pamela Monroe-Ellis said her department could not satisfactorily conclude the examination of the bank reconciliation statements without the returned cheques. In addition, she said the authenticity of payees could not be verified.

Quizzed by the PAC chairman about this matter, Williams said the brigade received bank statements, but not the cheques.

The commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade told the PAC that the director of finance wrote to the bank on a number of occasions demanding an explanation of why the cheques were not returned. However, he said in recent times the brigade has received some of the cheques.

Swift action needed

This explanation did not satisfy the committee chairman who suggested swift action by the management of the brigade.

"You need either a new bank or new financial controller or both, but this is unsatisfactory," he charged.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com