KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Integrity Commission stands in solidarity with the many Jamaicans who suffered and continue to suffer from the terrible effects of hurricane Melissa and grieves with the loved ones and the entire Jamaica for the lives lost.

The Commission recognises the efforts on the part of all arms of government to respond to the needs of our people impacted by the hurricane. We join all Jamaicans in extending appreciation to every individual and group locally and internationally that has stepped forward to provide or mobilise support for Jamaica.

While recognising that the needs are immediate and that the usual strictures of the government procurement and related implementation processes may be largely relaxed in keeping with emergency procedures, the Integrity Commission urges all parties responsible for overseeing the different aspects of the aid process to make every effort to ensure that the mechanisms established to provide assistance will adhere to the principles of fairness, integrity, accountability and transparency.

Accordingly, the Commission wishes to assure Jamaicans, individual and group donors, and the international community that, in keeping with its statutory mandate, it will diligently utilise its monitoring and investigative resources to ensure that any identified acts of corruption or impropriety are dealt with in accordance with the respective laws.

The Integrity Commission, therefore, urges the public and government employees to promptly report any incidence of mismanagement and corruption, utilising the following modalities.