Email

Print

For the past two weeks, we’ve been reporting on Santos Mahung the President of the University of Belize who is under fire. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees Imani Morrison wrote to the Prime Minister at the end of January recommending his termination. The Prime Minister then wrote to Mahung asking him to respond to the charges. He did and according to the Prime Minister, the matter is on his desk but he has not had enough time to wade through what he calls “voluminous documentation.” But what are the allegations? That’s what a faculty group asked last week. Well, we have answers tonight. 7News has obtained a copy of the letter to the Prime Minister outlining the case against Mahung. Here is the story.

Keith Swift Reporting,
Chief on the list of allegations is that as Chief Executive Officer of the University, Dr. Mahung failed to advise the board that UB had $5 million available in various bank accounts.

[October 15th, 2009]
Imani Fairweather Morrison, Chair – UB Board of Trustees
“The Board of Trustees discovered from a draft audit report which was received literally a few days ago that the information that was provided to them was wholly inconsistent with the financial position of the university.”

It was a consequential non-disclosure because it would have eliminated the need for the proposed fee increases in October of 2009 - and averted the subsequent student protests which brought the university to its knees and forced board Chair Imani Fairweather Morrison to make this embarrassing public admission.

[October 15th, 2009]
Imani Fairweather Morrison,
“That financial situation was materially incomplete and therefore misleading in our view.”

Keith Swift,
“Will that staff member be suspended, fired, what?”

Imani Fairweather-Morrison,
“I assure you that whatever necessary and appropriate action will be taken.”

And according to board – the staff member ultimately responsible for the omission was President Santos Mahung. They say Mahung says he didn’t know the funds were available and based on that they conclude it was a, “gross neglect of his duties.” The board further complains that the graduation ceremony held on January 16th was without authorization from the board, a requirement under UB regulations. The board says Mahung explained it as an “oversight, a mistake” but they characterize it as a, “blatant disregard for the board’s policies."

And it is for principally those reasons the board concluded that, “Dr. Mahung has failed to satisfactorily perform in his capacity,” and as a consequence they asked the Prime Minister to “recommend to the Governor General that his contract be terminated.”

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
“The board wrote to the Prime Minister to say that there were certain things that they thought that were in breach and as I’ve said, I don’t think I am at liberty as the Prime Minister has said as well, he has given Dr. Mahung an opportunity to respond. The Prime Minister has indicated to me that he has received a response from Dr. Mahung although I am not privy to what claims Dr. Mahung made or what he answered to.”

The decision doesn’t rest with Education Minister Patrick Faber but speaking broadly - he told us on Tuesday that there needs to be a smooth transition.

Hon. Patrick Faber,
“We hope that we can do that as smoothly as possible. Whether that means President Mahung stays or President Mahung goes because it is a pillar of our nation and this entire nation is waiting and depending on what happens at UB. For us at the Ministry of Education, it is very important for that institution to move forward.”

Chairman Imani Morrisson refused to comment, saying that she cannot comment on a matter of private law. She adds that Mahung is a sitting President and it is not the Board’s intention to discredit him in any way. We tried to contact Dr. Mahung for a response but were told that he is out of the country until Monday.