Prof. Ramesh Deosaran was quoted last week as saying that as far as he knew he has found no financial irregularities at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).Two weeks ago the professor was appointed acting president of the institution, following the resignation of Prof. Ken Julien. Deosaran also said the government could go ahead and conduct a forensic audit of the university.
Now Deosaran is saying that there was an "a gross misunderstanding and inaccuracy" in the interpretation of the facts.
He said a reporter asked him if in his two weeks in office he uncovered any financial irregularities in view of Government’s forensic audit.
He said he told the reporter that from documents coming to him and from his own administrative inquiries in that short period, he did not see any financial irregularities.
Deosaran was attempting to clarify the situation after Tertiary Education Minister
Fazal Karim said he wants to see the report of any inquiry into the finances that Deosaran had conducted.Karim told reporters over the weekend he would like to see the details of the enquiry and the methodology used before he could make any further comments on statements attributed to Deosaran.
Karim also told reporters there is no truth in allegations by opposition leader Keith Rowley that the People's Partneship government plans to merge UTT with any other tertiary level institution.
The minister said that UTT would continue to run as a separate body from other tertiary educational institutions such as the University of The West Indies (UWI).
Deosaran explained that there is "a big difference between what I saw during my short two weeks in office and whether or not a financial audit will find corruption at UTT.”
He suggested that there is a need for a much closer working relationship between Karim and and the heads of UTT and all other tertiary education heads.
“I expect to meet the minister early this week and will recommend for this purpose “a Council of Tertiary Education Heads” to meet at least monthly with the line minister, Deosaran told the Newsday newspaper.
He said he would also suggest that "the long pending Act of Parliament for UTT to be brought to Parliament to help enable proper governance and oversight and that UTT’s relationship with NAPA be seriously reviewed."
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Minister Karim's statements over the weekend is an example of the comment made by Minister of Finance and COP Leader Winston Dookeran that some government ministers are talking too much.
I first became suspicious of Mr Karim's loyalties as far back as 2001 when at a specially convened congress of the UNC he publicly paid tribute to Jack Warner in a report he was presenting. It was during this presentation that I blurted: "Who elected them ?" to the consternation and murmurs of all present. Mr Basdeo Panday who was at the height of his power had a few days earlier said: who want to resign could resign". Well we lost power shortly after and now after almost a decade the signs of hubris is visiting a few ministers one of whom is minister Karim.
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