Minister Vaz Says Extreme Crisis Demands Immediate Action

Press Release From Minister Daryl Vaz—February 4, 2026

Minister Daryl Vaz

I have taken note of findings from the Auditor General concerning an alleged procurement breach related to Starlink devices which were obtained after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica and destroyed connectivity across several sections of the island. 

I strongly reject any suggestion of wrong doing for my justifiable actions. Let me first outline the context in which the devices were procured. It must be noted that in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, catastrophic damage was wrought upon the physical and digital infrastructure networks across Jamaica. Connectivity was lost in several parishes in western Jamaica, and hundreds of messages were being passed on to Government Ministers and agencies from people in desperate need to communicate with their loved ones. 

The Auditor General’s claim that my “involvement breached Section 20 of the Public Procurement Act, 2015, which assigns sole responsibility for procurement activities to the head of the procuring entity” is both uninformed and grossly inaccurate. 

It must be noted that all actions 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. 

In keeping with the Guidance Note, there can be no doubt that the “Requirements for Employing Emergency Procurement Procedures” were satisfied. These requirements are a genuine situation of emergency or urgency and the necessity of the procurement activity. 

The guidelines further state that, subject to fiscal responsibility considerations, procurements in situations of emergency or extreme urgency may be approved by the head of a procuring entity, regardless of the value and the method of procurement utilised. 

As we sought to respond in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the only reliable source of connectivity was through Starlink. As a result, the demand for the devices increased and quickly depleted the local supply. Households, businesses, government services, emergency services, disaster response teams, the security forces, the financial sector, local representatives, and many others were all in need of the devices at the same time. It must be noted that even our very own telecoms sector was being boosted through the assistance of Starlink. Jamaica received a donation of devices for emergency response, and this donation was quickly depleted with the demand for more simultaneously increasing. 

The procurement of the devices was as a result of the emergency situation which we found ourselves in during the initial stages of the rescue and recovery process and the demand for telecommunication and connectivity in the worst-affected parishes. The communication void was a critical impediment to relief response, and an immediate solution was vital. 

Acting in my capacity as Co-Chair of the Relief and Recovery Oversight Committee, I took a decision that ensured that the Government was able to secure the available devices quickly and have them distributed to the relevant state agencies and recovery teams in the quickest possible manner. 

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 devices were procured via the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management. 

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. Normal times call for normal actions, but in times of disaster and emergencies, such as the position that Jamaica was placed in following Hurricane Melissa, the ability to respond immediately can often save lives and mitigate harm and widespread public panic. 

Finally, the statement from the Opposition is both disingenuous and an attempt to seek relevance. I must remind Opposition Spokesman Phillip Paulwell that the devices he referenced are the same Starlink devices which Opposition members, including those in the leadership of the PNP, were clamouring for and received during the most challenging of times. 

Councillors and Members of Parliament in the affected areas were all recipients of these procured devices. This also includes the fulfillment of the request that was made by the Leader of the Opposition. The accountability that Paulwell and the Opposition demand may therefore begin with the devices that they received. 

At a time when Jamaica was at its most vulnerable and most fragile, I could not, as a coChair of the Relief and Recovery Oversight Committee, an elected official, and the Minister of Telecommunications, sit idly by during what constituted a telecoms emergency. 

Extreme times require extreme, decisive, and effective leadership. I stand resolutely behind my actions which were in the best interest of the Jamaican people. 

Editor's Note

Procedures are there to guide the operations, but if such procedures become shackles, they should be removed. During an emergency, urgently required actions cannot be sacrificed on the altar of procedures. It is the editor's view that if the minister, through his contacts, can procure items during an emergency and the documentation is done after, as stated in the Auditor General's report, then it means there was consensus between the minister and the head of ODPEM. If the equipment ended up in people's personal possessions, then that would be a matter for the police.

Where procedures are not followed, and those in charge can give a credible reason for the procedures not to be followed, this should be noted in the audit report. 

If one did not read the audit report carefully and follow the news media, one would get the impression that some fraud was committed involving these Starlink devices. Procedures cannot be more important than an organization or a country. It is possible that the auditor general is not seeing things in a holistic way. The smooth and efficient operation of an entity is of paramount importance, especially in an emergency.

I believe this issue was a storm in a teacup, and it only provided political fodder. Mrs Pamela Munroe-Ellis, you need to do some serious introspection.

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