KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Sagicor Foundation has issued a detailed clarification regarding the allocation of funds from its 2023 Sigma Corporate Run, following allegations of financial misdirection raised by opposition health officials. The philanthropic organization confirmed that proceeds designated for the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) were exclusively utilized to procure a computed tomography (CT) scanner for the institution’s pediatric department.
Official records indicate the 2023 charity event generated J$91,852,500 (approximately US$580,000), with designated beneficiaries being both the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and UHWI’s Pediatric Unit. According to the foundation’s Wednesday statement, a disbursement of US$495,000 (roughly J$79.2 million) was transferred to an authorized Philips medical equipment distributor in 2024 to secure the diagnostic imaging technology.
The foundation’s response comes after Dr. Alfred Dawes, health spokesman for the opposition People’s National Party, publicly demanded accountability regarding approximately J$75 million raised specifically for pediatric care. Dr. Dawes characterized alleged discrepancies in fund allocation as ‘deeply concerning,’ emphasizing that donations collected for critically ill children must be applied exclusively to their promised purposes.
Medical procurement timelines reveal the CT scanning equipment was shipped in early December 2025, with anticipated delivery to Jamaica scheduled for February 2026. The Sagicor Foundation emphasized its commitment to operational transparency, stating all financial distributions strictly adhere to its governance framework and are fully accounted for through official channels.
The developing situation highlights increasing public scrutiny over charitable fund management in Jamaica’s healthcare sector, particularly regarding corporate-sponsored initiatives targeting vulnerable patient populations.