Vaz says 'no apologies' in rejecting auditor general’s 'uninformed' finding on Starlink purchases

Telecommunications Minister Daryl Vaz has rejected the auditor general's finding that he violated the law in the acquisition of 200 Starlink devices for hurricane relief, calling the allegation "uninformed and grossly inaccurate."

"I strongly reject any suggestion of wrongdoing for my justifiable actions,” said Vaz, who is also co-chair of the Relief and Recovery Oversight Committee (RROC), in a series of posts on social media site X on Wednesday. "If, in the midst of panic buying and price gouging, I am being faulted for intervening to secure devices to assist a national response, then I make no apologies and take full responsibility."

Starlink devices are user-operated satellite equipment developed by international technology firm SpaceX. They provide high-speed internet connectivity in areas where traditional networks are unavailable or disrupted.

In a compliance audit tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis concluded that Vaz violated the law when he directed the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to purchase the devices from a supplier.

"The engagement of the supplier by the minister breached Section 20 of the Public Procurement Act, 2015 (Responsibilities of the Head of Procuring Entity), which places direct responsibility for all procurement activities on the Head of the Procuring Entity," the report said. "This means only the Accountable Officer or Head of the Entity is legally empowered to initiate procurement, and there is no provision in law which allows the Minister/Co-Chair (ROCC) to approve or initiate commitments, select suppliers, or to give any directive to ODPEM for payments."

But Vaz insisted that all steps taken were in keeping with the Guidance Note on the Acquisition of Goods, Services and Works in the Situation of Emergency or Extreme Urgency, issued by the Office of Public Procurement Policy, which allows for emergency procurement in disaster situations.

Vaz said following the storm, the only reliable source of connectivity was through Starlink, and demand quickly depleted the local supply. He added that rapid procurement of the devices was essential to restore communications for households, businesses, government services, emergency responders, and disaster relief teams.

"It must be noted that even our very own telecoms sector was being boosted through the assistance of Starlink," he said, adding that "the communication void was a critical impediment to relief response, and an immediate solution was vital".

Vaz said the devices were distributed through the Office of the Commissioner of Police and ODPEM to ensure urgent connectivity in the hardest-hit parishes. “Extreme times require extreme, decisive, and effective leadership,” he wrote. “If even one life was saved, or even one family rescued as a result of the decision taken, then it would have been worth it.”

The audit reported noted that Vaz’s November 13, 2025, letter to the ODPEM director general directed the purchase of 200 Starlink Mini 4th Generation devices, valued at $12.12 million. It stated that, subsequent to the minister's directive, ODPEM presented two invoices dated November 11, 2025, from a supplier, reflecting $12.12 million before tax.

It was also stated that, by way of correspondence dated November 13, 2025, the minister directed ODPEM to facilitate the payments to the supplier.

The audit also disclosed that while the Starlink devices were delivered to the Office of the Commissioner of Police on November 14, formal approval by ODPEM’s director general was not granted until November 20.

Monroe Ellis said the required Internal Emergency Procurement Requisition Form was only completed on November 19.

"The requisition form—which documents the procurement request, approvals, justification for emergency procurement, supplier selection, and risk assessment—was created retrospectively to formalize the process," the report said.

The audit also highlighted that there was no documented justification for selecting the supplier, and no evidence confirming the condition, inventory records, or distribution monitoring of the devices.

Vaz has maintained, however, that the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Melissa and the urgent need to restore connectivity required quick action.

“Normal times call for normal actions, but in times of disaster and emergencies… the ability to respond immediately can often save lives and mitigate harm and widespread public panic,” he said.

He said: "The procurement of the devices was possible as a result of the swift and decisive actions taken, and I make no apologies for this. This was done in my capacity as co-chair and Minister with

responsibility for Telecommunications. "

The minister also criticised the Opposition People's National Party, which on Wednesday said the audit report "underscores growing questions about transparency, accountability, and the management of public resources."

“Jamaicans are entitled to clear and consistent answers,” said Phillip Paulwell, the opposition spokesman on telecommunications.

But Vaz dismissed those concerns, pointing out that several Starlink devices had been distributed to councillors and Members of Parliament, including a request from Opposition Leader Mark Golding.

"The accountability that Paulwell and the Opposition demand may therefore begin with the devices that they received… I stand resolutely behind my actions, which were in the best interest of the Jamaican people," the minister said.

Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on October 28, killing at least 45 persons and leaving more than US$8.8 billion in damage

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