Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Four members of the audit department at the University of Technology Jamaica (UTech) were yesterday sent on leave, after information from an auditors' report involving financial queries at the institution was circulated to the media.

The report, which was commissioned by Dr Blossom O'Meally-Nelson, former Pro-Chancellor of UTech, outlined over-expenditure on transport and accommodation for Prof Errol Morrison, president of the institution.

"I was informed by my staff that they were sent on leave pending the outcome of investigations with regard to a report that found itself in the media, which emanated from my office," Dwight Sibbles, internal auditor at UTech, told The Gleaner yesterday.

Sibbles, who has been at home ill since Tuesday afternoon, said he was told by his colleagues that they were asked to remove all their items from the office. He noted that this was done in the presence of security personnel.

"They have shut us out of the information system and changed all the locks," said the internal auditor.

Sibbles said the letter did not state when the employees, including three audit officers and one administration support staff, were to return to work.

He said he was not sure whether there was a letter for him as he has been out sick since Tuesday afternoon. He is expected to return to work on Friday.

Differences

Dr O'Meally-Nelson was asked to resign from UTech, reportedly after investigations revealed that there were management and personality differences between her and Professor Morrison.

According to the internal auditor's report, obtained by The Gleaner last year, Professor Morrison is entitled to full accommodation and transportation.

However, the president, who took up office last March, did not receive his entitlement on the date that he commenced duties because the previous president, Dr Rae Davis, was on vacation leave and upon completion of his leave, he requested and was granted permission to occupy the designated president's residence until the end of May.

Repair works and maintenance were also carried out on the property when Dr. Davis vacated it.

Dr. Davis also opted to purchase the motor vehicle that was assigned to him. Interim arrangements were therefore made, to rent the property Professor Morrison occupied prior to his appointment at the UTech for $150,000 monthly.

The internal auditor said he was concerned that no formal agreement was done and noted that an assessment of the potential rental cost of the property should have been done for transparency reasons.

The auditor was also concerned that $61,634 was refunded to Professor Morrison for money spent to repair the roof of the house he occupies. However, the auditors recommended that this money be refunded to the university.

Meanwhile, the report stated that 10 days after he assumed office, Professor Morrison also requested that $10,000 be refunded to him for money spent to cut trees from his house. The auditor also recommended that this money be refunded to the university as the landlord should have had the property in a tenable state.

The auditor's report also stated that $17,000 was refunded to the president for money he spent to repair a refrigerator fan, service fridge, repair washing machine and service heater. The auditor stated that these are not assets of the university and should therefore be returned.

Education Minister Andrew Holness told The Gleaner that he has a copy of the report but has not gone through it in detail.

When contacted, Professor Errol Morrison, president of UTech declined to comment on the mater. He referred The Gleaner to Ambassador Derrick Heaven, Chairman of the University Council, before hurriedly hanging up the phone before the conversation ended.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com