CMU, project manager part ways
Published:Tuesday | January 5, 2021 | 12:16 AM
The contract of former project manager at the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), Elaine Hayden, has not been renewed.
Hayden told a parliamentary oversight committee last year that her reputation would “take a beating” after admitting that she had no evidence to substantiate that there was a contract between the university and Business Supply Source or Logistics Company 1.
“... At the end of the day, I have a responsibility to come and speak to my actions,” Hayden said in June 2020 as she was grilled by members of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), who were reviewing the auditor general’s special report into allegations of malpractices at the CMU.
Expired in August
An access to information request has revealed that Hayden’s contract had expired in August 2020 but was not renewed.
Hayden had responded to queries from committee member Lisa Hanna, who had raised questions about her involvement as project manager in the nearly US$1-million arrangement to procure material for a J$701-million, three-storey student block at the CMU’s main campus in east Kingston.
“There is no contract that I am aware of. When I requested the contract, it wasn’t ... . Once it went to the procurement committee, the norm is that it goes to the Office of the President to sign off and then contract arrangements are handled there. I have not seen the contract.
“I do not know if one exists. When I requested it, there was none,” she told the committee at the time.
The project manager, who had worked at the institution from 2014, said she had to follow instructions or would be deemed insubordinate.
Although the terms of the separation could not be ascertained, Hayden had indicated at the PAC meeting that she might not renew her contract.
In an education ministry response to issues raised in the auditor general’s report, the CMU said it accepted that an error was made when the full payment of US$621,000 was made to Logistics Company 1 two days after the procurement committee gave its approval.
Further, the CMU stated that it was now aware that “there is a 57 per cent variation for this project, which is also a breach based on the allowable amount stated in the procurement guidelines. It must be noted that the procurement of high beams, etc, for US$368,000 also indicated a breach in the procurement guidelines”.
Hayden said she reported directly to Fritz Pinnock, the embattled president of the university who is on leave and facing corruption charges linked to the CMU. Resigned Education Minister Ruel Reid, his wife Sharen, daughter Sharelle, and Brown’s Town Division Councillor Kim Brown-Lawrence are also facing fraud-related charges.
Reid, Pinnock and their three co-accused are to hear on February 4 whether their fraud case will continue.
Next month, Chief Parish Judge Chester Crooks will be ruling on a point raised by defence attorney Hugh Wildman.
Wildman has maintained that officers from the Financial Investigation Division had no authority in law to arrest or bring charges against the accused.