THE Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) says it remains committed to ensuring that all relief resources placed under its stewardship are managed transparently, responsibly, and in accordance with the Government of Jamaica’s public financial management requirements.

In a statement last evening acknowledging the observations and recommendations contained in the Auditor General’s Hurricane Melissa Relief Initiative Audit Report tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, ODPEM said it recognises the importance of strengthening governance, inventory management, procurement administration, delivery verification, documentation, and reporting arrangements associated with national disaster response and recovery operations.

“The agency notes that the period under review covers an unprecedented post-disaster operating environment, in which urgent national relief, shelter support, logistics co-ordination and recovery activities were being undertaken simultaneously across several affected parishes,” it said.