Ministry Of Education And Youth Being Investigated By Anti-Corruption Agency

Made in JamaicaApril 1, 2022

The Fayval-Williams led Ministry is again at the centre of another investigation by the Major Organised Crime and Anti Corruption Agency (MOCA).

Head of MOCA’s Investigations, Oreth Dunkley confirmed that electronic devices of senior officials in the Education and Accounts sections of the Ministry of Education and Youth were confiscated on Monday, March 28, as part of an active investigation.

Acting Permanent Secretary, Maureen Dwyer noted that the Financial Investigations Division (FID), as well as MOCA, have been investigating the Ministry for approximately 3 to 4 months. While not providing much information on the matter, PS Dwyer urged that questions be directed to FID as Ministry officials are unable to comment on the matter.

Both the Permanent Secretary and Minister of Education have declined to name any of the senior officials whose electronic devices were seized.

Sources reveal that this investigation is related to the misappropriation of funds and is connected to the 2019 scandal with former Minister, Ruel Reid when he allegedly made fraudulent payments of an estimated amount of over $50-million from the Career Advancement Programme (CAP) to non-workers. This initiative was designed to assist high school leavers to achieve skills training and be certified.

Further reports have revealed that the investigation is also covering several areas of the Education Ministry.

Similarly last year, MOCA and FID probed the Ministry into the reported loss of more than $120 million of public funds that were reportedly paid over to the Joint Committee on Tertiary Education (JCTE).

The results of this investigation have not been made official to the public to date.

Made in JamaicaApril 1, 2022