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Lorraine Walker reports
The Integrity Commission's Director of Investigations has recommended that disciplinary proceedings be taken against former Executive Director of National Education Trust (NET), Marcia Phillips Dawkins, for allegedly acting contrary to the entity's procurement procedures and the Public Procurement Act and its regulations.
Kevon Stephenson noted that while Mrs. Phillips Dawkins is no longer employed to NET, she remains in the employ of the Ministry of Education.
The findings of the IC's investigation report concerning allegations of impropriety and procurement irregularities at the NET were tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The allegations are that the former Executive Director of National Education Trust sent a request for quotation to a supplier bearing the procurement manager's signature without her knowledge or consent.
At the conclusion of his investigation, which started on April 14, 2022, the Director of Investigations determined that the use of the procurement manager's signature was inappropriate, unethical and misleading.
Mr. Stephenson also concluded that it is irregular in this jurisdiction for the head of the entity to personally prepare and issue procurement solicitation documents when there is competent staff hired for those purposes.
Additionally, he said the inherent risks in the head of entity initiating and personally conducting a procurement exercise and ultimately giving final approval cannot be disregarded.
Mr. Stephenson said he considered the explanation by Mrs. Phillips Dawkins as to the urgency placed on the undertaking in question.
In refuting the allegations by way of a letter sent to the Integrity Commission, dated June 11, 2025, the former NET Executive Director denied that she conducted a fraudulent transaction, adding that the request for proposal was done transparently, as all documents were copied to the NET procurement and project managers and the acting permanent secretary in the Education Ministry.
Mrs. Phillips Dawkins noted that the moment an error in the document was identified, she instructed that it be withdrawn and the process be taken over by the procurement manager and her team.
In relation to the allegations of breach of procurement, Mrs. Phillips Dawkins said she decided to assist in the procurement process for the project as final approval would have come from the acting permanent secretary.
She commented that it was surprising and unfortunate that only one side of the issue was considered and represented by the Integrity Commission in its investigation and that the NET Board did not give her an opportunity to defend herself against the allegations before she was sent on precautionary leave with full pay in November 2021.
Her contract was not renewed.