CONCERNS have been raised about proper accountability for the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) funds at President’s College and that the body has defied the auditors of the Ministry of Education. The Chairman of the Board of Governors of the school, David DeGroot, when contacted by this newspaper yesterday, confirmed that there are indeed grave concerns about the funds.
According to DeGroot, there has been significant violation of the PTA constitution which stipulates that financial statements have to be provided on a monthly basis but these have not been forthcoming.
He said the current PTA Chairman, Abdul Wickham, in apparent cooperation with the school’s Deputy Head teacher, Ms. Carolyn Canterbury, has steadfastly refused to produce acceptable financial statements and have been defying auditors from the Ministry of Education.
DeGroot described the situation as “alarming” in view of the magnitude of funds involved and is calling on parents to be aware of the current situation.
Large sums of money were collected from parents to build lockers for students but this was never done, DeGroot charged, adding that funds from the school’s canteen and documentation centre have not been properly accounted for.
He noted too, that PTA elections at the school traditionally are held in September of each year, but this has not been followed and last year the election was held in February and this year the same will happen.