Dr. Grace McLean - Gleaner file photo
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Attorney Peter Champagnie, who represents Dr. Grace McLean
Dr. Grace McLean, the former acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, has been interdicted.
Dr. McLean had been sent home in October to facilitate investigation into a report by Auditor General Pamela Munroe Ellis regarding the payment of $124 million to the Joint Committee for Tertiary Education (JCTE).
Her paid leave was scheduled to end on Wednesday, January 19 after which she was expected to return to her substantive post as Chief Education Officer.
However, the interdiction means Dr. McLean will be barred from returning to work until a decision is made in relation to the investigation, including whether she will have to repay some of the money which cannot be accounted for.
Dr. McLean's attorney, Peter Champagnie, confirmed that a notice was sent to the ministry official late Wednesday informing her of the interdiction "based on the substantial matter as it relates to the recommendation of a surcharge".
The Auditor General had recommended surcharge action against Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Dean-Roy Bernard and Dr. McLean in relation to the matter.
"[T]hat recommendation has been responded to in the way of a dissent and we are awaiting a formal position on that. And if it's a case where it is going to be adverse to my client, then we will most definitely be seeking the intervention of the court at that juncture," Mr. Champagnie revealed.
He is expecting a response from the Financial Secretary on whether a surcharge will be imposed on Dr. McLean.
"We have outlined in a very detailed letter why it is that certain...recommendations were made based on false premises and it is therefore for them now to look at that. And I suspect that they’re going to have to take some time in order to respond to us," said the attorney, who was speaking on Thursday on Radio Jamaica's call-in programme Hotline.
The Ministry of Finance had issued a statement on January 5 that it was in the process of gathering and reviewing information regarding the recommendation for surcharge made by the Auditor General.
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