AN EXPENSIVE piece of artwork loaned to Jamaica House by the National Gallery of Jamaica reportedly went missing about two years ago and officials from the agency are now scrambling to recover the painting.

"A search is on, every method is being used to locate and, in addition, systems are being put in place that there is no recurrence," said Faith Innerarity, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Executive Director of the National Gallery, Veerle Poopeye, revealed on Tuesday that the missing piece from Jamaica House was done by Albert Huie.

Parliament's public accounts committee was informed yesterday that another nine pieces of art loaned to Government agencies could not be located.

Inadequate controls

Auditor General, Pamela Monroe Ellis, in her report on the financial year ending 2007/08, said controls over the movement of artwork at the National Gallery of Jamaica were inadequate.

She pointed out that several paintings owned by the gallery that were loaned to Government agencies could not be located.

"They are not actually missing but its just a matter of reconciling," said Innerarity.

She said the gallery could not account for 10 pieces. Another piece that would have made the count 11 has since been recovered.

The total value of the missing art pieces was estimated at $2 million.

Innerarity told the committee that the person(s) who had signed for the artwork could be asked to pay for the paintings, if it were found that they were negligent.

But committee member Laurie Broderick had a different spin on the missing paintings.

"If the paintings are loaned on particular conditions and they are removed and they cannot say by whom I suggest they contemplate the meaning of theft," he asserted.