-manager, staff sent on leave

University of Guyana Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith has asked the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force to launch an investigation into the operations of the Centre for Information Technology (CIT), following serious allegations of theft of equipment from the Centre and misconduct of staff members.

A statement from UG on Tuesday noted that the Manager of the Centre and several employees have been sent on leave as an interim measure to allow the investigation to proceed without disruption of evidence, and to preserve a safe, orderly, and professional work environment.

“A temporary manager has been identified to oversee the operations of the Centre during the conduct of the investigation,” the UG statement explained. It was further noted that in meeting with the relevant CIT staff and CID officials on Monday, Vice-Chancellor Griffith voiced his commitment to having appropriate action taken by the Police after the investigation ends.

According to UG, the Ministry of Public Telecommunication has been asked to conduct a forensic audit of the CIT operations at the Turkeyen and Berbice campuses and the four centers of the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education located at Anna Regina, Georgetown, Linden and New Amsterdam.

The Vice-Chancellor has briefed the presidents of the two university unions and the students’ society, as well as relevant university leaders on the development.

“He also wishes to assure the university community that the Centre’s service to students and staff will be normal while the CID conducts its comprehensive investigation and the Ministry of Public Telecommunications undertakes an institution-wide audit of the CIT, which has been plagued with multiple challenges for some time,” the statement concluded.