Chronology of Jamaica's Auditor General

From time to time enquiries are made by interested persons about the origin of the Auditor General's Department. This information could not be ascertained from files and records of the Department or from public officers who had long association with the office.

Early in 1981 a search of the `Blue Books' stored at the Government's Archives in Spanish Town, together with disclosures from the Gleaner, the Institute of Jamaica and some pictures abandoned in the Department's Library revealed the following:

1. Mr. John Wilson served as Deputy Postmaster General during the period 1829 —1850. Simultaneously he held the position of Auditor General which was not then a full time office. For these positions he received a salary of £1,500.00 and £150.00 per annum respectively.
2. In 1851 under section 2 Cap 53 of Law —1851 the independent office of Auditor General was established. Mr. Alexander Bravo was appointed the first full time Auditor General in 1851 and served in that post until 1867.
3. Succeeding officers are as follows:

• John Wardle [1867— 1896]
• Louis John Bertram, C.M.G [1897 —1920]
• Charles Grey Davis [1920 —1931]
• Eric Colquhoun Aitken [1932 —1935]
• John Leonard Worlledge [1936 —1941]
• Colonel F. D. McPhail [1941-1951]
• Ernest Alexander Gadishaw [1952-1956]
• Harold George Nosworthy [1957 —1966]
• Rudolph Victor Irvine [1966 —1979]. Mr. Irvine also served as the first Chairman of the Integrity Commission between 1973  and  1979.
• Adrian P. Strachan, OJ, CD, FCCA, FCA, J.P. [1978-2008]
• Pamela Monroe-Ellis, FCCA, FCA, CISA [2008-present]

The under mentioned documents set out the essential responsibilities of the Auditor General.

(a) The Jamaica (Constitution) Order in Council 1962 Section 120-122.

(b) The Financial Administration and Audit Act. (Previously the F.A.A. Law 1959) Sections 25 — 35.