The Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) has again sought to clarify that it did not claim that trillions of dollars in government funds were missing.

The misrepresentation came about because of the use of the term “unaccounted for.”

As such, JAMP has withdrawn the term “unaccounted for” and replaced it with “appropriation accounts outstanding.”

In a statement, JAMP Executive Director Jeanette Calder said the group has taken note of misinterpretations occurring in the public discourse arising from the use of the term “unaccounted for” in highlighting findings of research into auditor general’s reports on the multi-year failure of some ministries and departments to submit annual appropriation accounts as required by the financial administration and audit act.

Ms. Calder said the public should note that without submission of the required reports, no audit is possible and as such no verification of accuracy, compliance with our laws, abuse or loss of funds can be conducted.

She pointed out that the statement by Finance Minister Fayval Williams at the post-cabinet press briefing last Wednesday, December 11, indicated that JAMP had stated and explained from the very beginning, that this did not mean that funds were missing.

Calder said notwithstanding this and further efforts in every interview to provide greater clarity, the misinterpretation persists and continues to distract from the substantive issues needing to be addressed.

JAMP is therefore advising that for the avoidance of further misinterpretation, it will use the wording “auditor general reports over the last 11 years indicate that financial reports for some three trillion dollars of public funds are outstanding”.

Calder said JAMP will revise the heading of the letter to parliament campaign to read “three trillion dollars of appropriation accounts outstanding”.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Fayval Williams says she is very happy to see that JAMP has withdrawn the words “unaccounted for” in reference to appropriation accounts outstanding.

In a statement posted on social media, Mrs. Williams also appealed to persons who make public statements to strive to be accurate, because of the greater responsibility to fellow Jamaicans, and the world, at large.

She said Jamaica’s reputation can be seriously tarnished and undermined by falsehood and inaccurate statements.