The Official Who Wouldn't Stay Gone
Dr. Andrew Wheatley was sworn in on September 17, 2025, as Minister Without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, responsible for science, technology and special projects — seven years after he resigned as Minister of Energy, Science and Technology amid the Petrojam scandal. Jamaica Observer, September 17, 2025
Profile
What the Auditor General Found
A report by the Auditor General's Office documented human resource and procurement breaches, billions in unaccounted-for petroleum, lack of transparency in fuel pricing, and waste of public funds. Auditor General of Jamaica
Unqualified Hire, Salary Doubled in One Year
Petrojam GM Floyd Grindley terminated the existing HR manager and replaced her with Yolande Ramharrack, who did not hold the academic qualification for the post. Her salary moved from $6.9 million to just over $12 million in one year.
Proven Fact — Auditor General's Report, tabled in ParliamentJ$1.4M Party, Then J$5M Hotel Retreat — 24 Hours Apart
Petrojam spent over J$1.4 million on a 25-guest party at Palms at Palmyra on September 19, 2017 — then just under J$5 million at Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall the following day for a board retreat. Jamaica Gleaner, June 2018
Proven Fact — Auditor General's ReportJ$5 Billion in Oil Cannot Be Accounted For
The Auditor General identified over J$5 billion in petroleum that could not be reconciled over a five-year period, along with over $25 million in sponsorships that "lacked transparency and accountability." Jamaica Gleaner, June 2018
Proven Fact — Auditor General's ReportJ$13M Severance with a Non-Disclosure Agreement
Ramharrack, facing disciplinary charges, resigned and received a severance of over J$13 million under an agreement with a non-disclosure clause — paid with public money. The Gleaner editorial board stated: "Petrojam is not a private company. It is taxpayers' money that is at stake." Jamaica Gleaner Editorial, July 2018
Proven Fact — Parliamentary recordsWhat the Integrity Commission Found
Wheatley Misrepresented His Connection to a Beneficiary
The IC found that Wheatley described Sophia Deer as his "former technical assistant" during the investigation — when she was in fact the mother of his nephew. Deer's school, Homestead Primary, received a Petrojam donation under his watch. IC Report — integritycommission.gov.jm
Proven Fact — IC Report tabled in Parliament, 2020"Dr Wheatley was less than truthful in his representations to the director of investigation when he described Ms Sophia Deer as his former technical assistant."
— Integrity Commission Investigation Report, 2020
The Chairman Was Charged. The Minister Was Not.
Former Petrojam chairman Dr. Perceval Bahado-Singh was arrested and charged with 12 counts of obtaining money by means of false pretence — for fraudulently claiming reimbursements for overseas business trips he did not attend, totalling US$73,620. Jamaica Gleaner, October 2020
The chairman was charged. The minister who appointed him and was found "less than truthful" by the IC resigned — and waited seven years.
Proven Fact — Court records, Jamaica GleanerGovernance Impact
Wheatley's reinstatement sends a direct signal about the career consequences of presiding over governance failures of this magnitude: a temporary political exile of seven years, followed by a return to Cabinet in the Office of the Prime Minister. The deterrent effect of accountability, in such a framework, approaches zero.