GOVERNMENT SHARPENS FOCUS ON RESILIENCE AND RISK OVERSIGHT AT AUDIT CONFERENCE

 Kingston, Jamaica: Thursday, January 22, 2025

Auditors, public sector workers and government officials were urged to strengthen stakeholder confidence in public services by reinforcing trust, enhancing risk oversight and building institutional resilience at the Government of Jamaica’s (GOJ) Audit Committees’ Conference, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Hosted by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MOFPS) in collaboration with the Office of the Cabinet, the conference facilitated high-level discourse addressing both traditional and emerging risks confronting the public sector, including artificial intelligence (AI), enterprise risk management and resilience in governance.

Hon. Fayval Williams, MP, CFA, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, in her address, underscored the pivotal role of audit professionals in advancing the goals and outcomes of Vision 2030 Jamaica. She noted that effective auditing enables public entities to identify systemic vulnerabilities and proactively anticipate risk.

“Your role is central to ensuring that public institutions operate with integrity, credibility and consistency, reinforcing the trust that underpins the effective functioning of government. Trust, however, cannot be strengthened through intention alone. It grows when risk oversight is robust and when systems operate with discipline,” emphasized Minister Williams.

The Minister also highlighted the critical contribution of audit committees to Jamaica’s national recovery following Hurricane Melissa.

“You are not simply members of audit committees; you are partners in the national renewal. You are guardians of public trust and essential architects of the Jamaica we are building together. And so, I challenge you, lead boldly and act decisively. Let your work reflect the Jamaica we are determined to restore,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Hon. Bryan Sykes, OJ, CD, Chief Justice of Jamaica, in his keynote address, encouraged auditors to lead with integrity, accountability and transparency.

“An effective audit committee member reads between the lines. They ask why? Even when why makes the room uncomfortable. They exercise what the law now calls ‘the care, diligence and skill that a reasonable and prudent person would exercise’ – but they do so even when unreasonable pressures are applied,” said Chief Justice Sykes.

Hon. Audrey Sewell, OJ, CD, JP, Cabinet Secretary in the Office of the Cabinet and Darlene Morrison, CD, Financial Secretary at the MOFPS, were among the speakers at the event.

Other featured presenters included Odean White, JP, Chief Risk Officer at the Bank of Jamaica and Founder of Risk Institute of the Caribbean Limited, Detective Superintendent of Police Carl Berry, Authorised Financial Investigator, Keith Khal, Retired Chief Audit Executive and Harris Robinson, Financial Advisor, Guardian Group.

The one-day hybrid conference, originally scheduled for October 2025, was postponed due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

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For further information contact:

Corporate Communication & Public Relations Branch

Ministry of Finance and the Public Service

30 National Heroes Circle

Kingston 4

Tel: (876) 932-4656/4660/4655

Email:  Shakiel.Rochester-Shorter@mof.gov.jm; Suzell.Wray@mof.gov.jm

Contact: Shakiel Rochester Shorter/Suzell Wray