Jamaican Audit: Only 1.8% of Hurricane Melissa Donations Spent So Far

JAMAICA – A report from the Auditor General’s Department, tabled in Jamaica’s Parliament, found that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management had received Jamaican $1.44 billion in donations following Hurricane Melissa by February 23, 2026, but spent just $26.2 million, or 1.8 percent, by that date.

The Auditor General said the findings exposed weaknesses in financial oversight, governance, procurement monitoring, and beneficiary verification.

Auditors also flagged governance failures involving the National Disaster Fund, including the absence of required financial reports and the lack of a dedicated bank account.