CMU still hunting proof of Pinnock spending spree
Published:Wednesday | April 22, 2020 | 12:26 AMEdmond Campbell/Senior Staff Reporter
More than three months after the publication of a special audit report on alleged malpractices at the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), the beleaguered institution is scrambling to find proof to substantiate reimbursements of nearly US$120,000 and J$2.2 million to its embattled president, Fritz Pinnock.
Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis reported that the CMU had provided expense statements from the president to support eight reimbursements amounting to US$32,028.47 and J$725,510.18. However, no invoices or bills to support these statements were presented to verify their authenticity.
In responses presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday, education ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Grace McLean said that the CMU was “undertaking an extensive exercise to find and submit the supporting documentation for the US$117,785.03, J$2,229,362.21 and $724,510.18”.
The ministry said that supporting documentation for specific sums included in the total of US$32,028.47 will be submitted for review while CMU searches for the missing documents.
In another startling development during the CMU scandal, the president was reimbursed for fixed assets costing US$12,697.41, which were reportedly purchased on behalf of the university. However, the auditor general said that there was no record of the items being included in CMU’s fixed assets register and that the assets were not presented for her department’s inspection.
McLean said that the CMU was able to identify the Microsoft Surface Pro as being included in the fixed asset register. However, it was confiscated by the Financial Investigations Division (FID). The other assets cannot be accounted for, the ministry said. These include tablets and recorders, an Apple watch, MacBook, two laptops, and a cell phone.
Last October, Pinnock, former education minister Ruel Reid, his wife Sharen, their daughter Sharelle, as well as Brown’s Town division Councillor Kim Brown Lawrence, were arrested and charged following a yearlong corruption probe into the Ministry of Education and the CMU.
In terms of a controversial international award received by Pinnock in the United Kingdom, McLean said that the CMU has acknowledged that no approval was sought from the council for the president to receive what the auditor general had indicated was a personal accolade.
‘MADE-UP HONOUR’
In January 2017, Pinnock was reimbursed US$10,440 in relation to expenses associated with the International Socrates Award which the British press had alleged was a “made-up honour”.
In the ministry document, containing responses to issues raised in the auditor general’s special report, McLean said that former chairman of the CMU Council, Hyacinth Bennett, was aware that Pinnock had planned to collect the award “and gave her blessings”.
The acting permanent secretary said that her ministry had researched the legitimacy of the award. “While the information found does not indicate that the company that issued the award is illegal, it shows that the company utilised this approach to earn income,” she said.
The ministry said that outside of the function for the awards, “the record showed that leadership sessions were held for which the president had registered and participated and which were a part of the funds that he was reimbursed”.
She said that no information was presented to the ministry regarding this award before the audit report was published. “The team is currently investigating and will provide a report to the Council,” McLean added.
The ministry admitted that no approval was sought for a CMU team to attend a conference overseas in 2019. The auditor general’s report showed that Pinnock authorised per diem and airfare of US$18,242.24 and $526,902 in the absence of the required recommendation and approval of the permanent and Cabinet secretaries, respectively.
The eight-member delegation headed by the president had attended the Port Management Association of the Caribbean Conference in Florida in June 2019. The length of stay of CMU’s attendees ranged from three to 10 days.