Senior official at Parliament flagged for private use of gov't vehicle - audit report

A vehicle from the fleet at the Houses of Parliament (HoP) was used for unofficial purposes by the facilities and operations manager, in breach of Government policy, a report from the Auditor General's Department (AuGD) has revealed.

The vehicle was used for 173 days - including weekends and public holidays - between June and December last year, according to the special audit report.

The finding was based on a review of the logbook for the vehicles, said the report, which was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

“Analysis of the times recorded in the logbook showed that this fleet vehicle was not parked at the HoP at the end of the working day, but apparently parked at the FOM’s [facilities and operations manager] place of abode during the night on 173 occasions,” the report said.

The AuGD noted that in response to the audit, the HoP indicated that a memo from the manager dated August 2025 indicated that the vehicle was used “pursuant to permission granted by the clerk in recognition of extended official hours and the need for personal safety during late night duties”.

“However, evidence of the stated authorisation was not provided,” the AuGD said.

The report noted that the Revised Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Policy for the Public Sector stipulates that Government-owned vehicles should only be used for official duties and therefore “on no occasion should these vehicles be used privately”.

It stipulates, too, that Government vehicles should not be retained overnight or beyond the period of the specific assignment, except in special circumstances.

Since June 13 this year, following legal advice and instructions from the Clerk to the HoP, the facilities and operations manager has ceased driving Government vehicles, the report stated.

Meanwhile, the AuGD said the audit revealed shortcomings in the management of fleet vehicles at HoP, including a lack of proper certification for drivers.

Other issues cited were inadequate records for the maintenance of vehicles and the absence of required quarterly efficiency reports.

It found, too, that several vehicles have remained unused for years without timely disposal and a case where a motor vehicle crash was reported to the Financial Secretary and the Auditor General approximately 15 months after it occurred.

The report said logbooks were not faithfully maintained and presented for review. “These deficiencies not only breached the GoJ Revised Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Policy, but raised concerns about oversight and asset use,” it said.

- Livern Barrett

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