Persons accused of defrauding six schools of $4.5m still on the job
THE Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Tuesday questioned the education ministry’s decision to keep on the job, persons in six schools who have allegedly defrauded the canteens/tuck shops of amounts totalling $4.5 million.
It was, however, not clear how many persons were involved.
“I find it most irregular that the persons remain on the job, if suspected,” said Opposition MP Derrick Smith, who chaired Tuesday’s meeting of the PAC. “That’s quite irregular… (usually) they are transferred or suspended.”
He was supported by Auditor-General Adrian Strachan, who noted that in central government persons suspected of involvement in fraud would be sent on leave immediately and, if the circumstances merit, the persons would be interdicted, especially if an investigation was being conducted.
Smith told the committee that one case involved the alleged theft of $1.2 million by a bursar while another concerned the overpayment of $1.8 million to a bursar. In another case more than $300,000 in cash receipts were not lodged in the school’s bank account.
In one Portland-based institution, the bursar involved has fled and cannot be located by the police, reported Margaret Bowie, permanent secretary for the education ministry. The remaining institutions, she said, are located in the parishes of St Elizabeth, St Catherine, St Thomas, St Ann and Hanover.
In responding to the concerns raised by legislators, Bowie said it was difficult to suspend officers under the education code compared to what obtains in central government, but she gave assurance that the ministry would be more vigilant in dealing with the persons suspected of fraud.
Parliamentarians expressed surprise that according to a recent report from the police, none of the persons implicated have yet been arrested for the irregularities which were detected by the auditor- general for the period 2000/2001.
“I am a bit disturbed,” said Neil McGill, government member. “It is quite a sum and, really, I am upset!” He suggested that the role and function of the boards of the six institutions should be brought into question because these boards have fiduciary responsibilities.
Added Smith: “We have been here for a long time, some of us, and we have these reports (sent) to the police (but) I very rarely heard of any conviction or even arrest.”