Tyrone Reid, Enterprise ReporterWith the controversial Cuban light bulb project still hot on its plate, Fraud Squad boss, Superin-tendent Fitz Bailey says his team of investigators are up against an increased number of fraud cases.
Just last week, in the House of Representatives, Clive Mullings, Minister of Energy, Mining and Telecommunications, revealed that the Fraud Squad had been asked to investigate the Cuban light bulb distribution project, in which the former People's National Party government incurred a bill of more than $276.5 million in the distribution of light bulbs, which the Cuban Government gave to Jamaica free of cost. But this controversial energy-saving initiative is just one of the high-profile cases that the Fraud Squad has to deal with.
employment scams
"Fraud is on the increase," says Supt. Bailey. "One of the rising types is the whole business of employment scams, especially those that offer employment overseas. "It (the prevalence) keeps the squad working around the clock," he reveals.
Although the almost 60-year-old Fraud Squad has islandwide jurisdiction, Supt. Bailey was unable to provide statistics that would capture the overall picture.
He tells The Sunday Gleaner that the squad is mandated to fight fraud across Jamaica, several cases do not come to its attention, because they are dealt with by the local police.