‘Absolute nonsense’

Western Bureau:

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has flatly rejected an assertion by Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis who, in a report tabled in Parliament this week, outlined concerns that the Government’s New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) is offering duplicated services and is in need of reform.

In a sharp rebuke of the report yesterday, Holness said the Government not only disagreed with the report but repudiated the finding, intimating that it might have been arrived at by the auditor general as a result of either ignorance or incompetence.

“We totally disagree,” said Holness, who was in western Jamaica handing out houses under the NSHP initiative. “In fact, we reject the findings of the auditor general as it relates to the operations of the New Social Housing Programme. And I wish to reassure the public that we have administered the programme, structured the programme in such a way that we follow all the regulations that are required.

“We are delivering this public service in the most efficient and integrous fashion. We consider it very concerning that such a finding would be found by the auditor general.

“There is a saying by a wise philosopher, ‘Never put down to malice what could be put down to ignorance and incompetence’.”

Overlapping functions

In her report, Monroe Ellis cited the NSHP as one of six identified social benefit programmes – the poor relief programme and the Municipal Social Assistance Programme administered by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), a rehabilitation programme under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Social Housing Programme and the NSHP managed by the MEGJC, and the Constituency Development Fund operated through the Office of the Prime Minister – that were operating with little or no coordination among them.

“We found that the various social programmes had similar objectives and overlapping functions, covering parts or the same areas of interest, with little or no coordination in the distribution of said benefits,” the report stated.

However, in rejecting the claim, Holness said while multiple agencies might be involved in the process, it is wrong to suggest that something is wrong as checks and balances are in place to ensure what is being undertaken is above board.

“This notion that somehow the public interest is being defeated by there being multiple windows is absolute nonsense. And I wish to point out that not because there are multiple windows to access a bank, it doesn’t mean that there is duplication or inefficiency. In as much as possible, the processes are integrated at the back end, because there is collaboration and because there is robust checking,” said Holness.

Holness also sought to dispute the report’s claims that, between 2018 and 2024, the social housing budget allocation totalled $677.7 million, while the NSHP was allocated $3.4 billion, and that the World Bank has also become concerned over time that multiple uncoordinated programmes and insufficient targeting and coverage are among issues affecting the distribution of social benefits to the poor and most vulnerable.

“I find it very disturbing that a programme like the New Social Housing Programme, which was carefully crafted, well executed, is being almost attacked in this way. We wish to assure the public that we are doing everything possible and will do everything possible to ensure that the benefits are delivered in a timely fashion, but also in an integrous and efficient fashion,” said Holness.

Despite his disagreement with the findings of the report, Holness acknowledged that the auditor general has a constitutional duty to report on government expenditure. He said, nonetheless, that the report will be scrutinised and, where there are valid concerns, efforts will be made to address and fix those issues.

“We will review their report as we always do. We will respond. And if there are shortcomings, we are constantly seeking to improve the way in which we deliver benefits to the people,” said Holness.

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