AUDITOR-GENERAL Adrian Strachan, in his most recently released annual report, disclosed that Government ministries and agencies overpaid staff in excess of $16 million in salaries and benefits during the 2003/2004 financial year.
Based on figures provided in the Auditor-General's March 2004 report, only about $500,000 of those funds had been recovered before the start of the new financial year.
The greatest offender was the police force, whose members are currently in a battle with the Government over their demands for a wage increase.
OVERPAYMENTS OF SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES
"During the period under review, the (National Security) Ministry's internal auditors reported overpayments of salaries and allowances totalling approximately $3.48 million to officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)," Mr. Strachan said in his report.
The Auditor-General also pointed to $3.02 million in salaries overpaid to certain councillors at the Trelawny and St. Catherine parish councils. He reported that the councillors had been paid for periods when they were absent from Council meetings without the required approval.
"In addition, three employees were overpaid emoluments totalling $82,179 at the St. Catherine and Trelawny councils," Mr. Strachan said.
COMPUTATION ERRORS
At the time of his report, Mr. Strachan did not indicate whether the police force or the parish councils had yet recovered any of the erroneously paid out funds.
However, the Auditor-General noted that, of $578,106 overpaid to eight teachers, $152,400 had been recovered.
But the overpayments were not strictly related to errors in the computation of salaries. Some were apparently based on false claims made by officers attached to Government departments.
"Payments amounting to $112,326 were made for what appeared to be excessive mileage claims made by 30 officers," Mr. Strachan said in highlighting concerns with the financial operations of the Inland Revenue Department. "It was recommended that the amounts overpaid be recovered and more effective internal checks implemented to prevent any recurrence."
