Clayton Hall, former principal of Spanish Town High School - file photo
By Kimone Witter
The Integrity Commission has recommended that disciplinary action be taken against former principal of Spanish Town High School, Clayton Hall, and bursar Deranica Allen-Williams following an investigation into allegations of impropriety and irregularity in respect of renovation and construction works carried out in 2014.
The action is in the event Mr. Hall and Mrs Allen-Williams are still employed in the public service.
Director of Investigations, Kevon Stephenson concluded that Mr. Hall in his capacity as Accounting Officer, breached Section 19 of the Financial Administration and Audit (FAA) Act due to his failure to ensure that applicable procurement, financial, and accounting policies and procedures were followed.
Mr. Stephenson said the bursar indicated that as the purchasing officer, she was left out of the process.
He recommended that an audit of the financial transactions in relation to the renovation works at the school be conducted to determine the extent of any loss which may have been occasioned by the breach of Section 19 of the FAA Act and cause such funds to be recovered.
The Commission said the investigation, which was started on November 27, 2014 by the then Office of the Contractor General, found breaches of the Government Procurement and Financial Management Guidelines.
The inquiry was prompted by a complaint that alleged that the Board Chairperson, Joy Douglas, engaged the services of her friend, architect and fine artist Maxine Gibson, and her associate, engineer Patrick Reece, to conduct the renovation work at the school.
This was said to have been done without proper records and without the knowledge and involvement of the other Board members.
The complainant further alleged that the project was expected to be completed in January 2015, and that Gibson was paid $100,000 per month and $30,000 for travelling.
It was further alleged that notwithstanding the excess in funds expended, there appeared to be no value for money.
No value for money
The Director of Investigations found that it could not be adequately determined if the spend of $21.97 million for renovation and construction activities at Spanish Town High School was value for money.
Activities on the project were halted on December 18, 2014 on the order of the Minister of Education.
A site visit by the then OCG's Construction Inspectorate Unit that month, noted several deficiencies in the standard of work, organisation and security.
Additionally, there was admitted absence of a Bill of Quantities for several areas of the works.
The Integrity Commission has recommended that officers concerned with the administration of the procurement process at the school undergo intensive training in public procurement and contract administration.
Additionally, the school was cautioned to ensure that mechanisms are implemented to guard against people acting in overlapping roles which may give rise to inappropriate conduct.
The Director of Investigations said Spanish Town High School should immediately desist from facilitating circumstances where a Board member intervenes inappropriately in the procurement and financial administration process regardless of whether the services provided are voluntary or otherwise.
The report noted that although chairman Joy Douglas was not paid in her role as contractor for renovation activities at the school, it concluded that she acted beyond her powers and contrary to the principles of transparency, accountability and good governance.
In light of this, the Director of Investigations recommended that the Minister of Education considers the tenure of the chairman.
Mr. Stephenson also suggested training for all board members.
All feeds
