(Trinidad Guardian) A call has been made for the Student Guild president of the University of the West Indies, Kirby Moses, to step down. This follows a vote of no confidence held by several members of the guild earlier this week, who raised concerns about Moses’ brother being appointed as Guild treasurer despite calls for a by-election to be held for the position.
Additionally, Guild members raised concerns about Moses’ allegations against the council and administration regarding financial discrepancies in the guild’s accounts. They said there was no evidence to support the claims.
When contacted yesterday, Moses questioned the validity of the motion against her and believed it was indeed related to her asking questions about the guild’s accounts.
She said she would take note of the criticisms raised, but still called for an audit to be done with regard to the guild’s accounts.
“I continue to work towards those goals with the people who are working with me to get there. I do not deny that what was presented can indeed build no confidence in someone, but I understand that my voice was not in the room, so that’s okay. I take it into consideration, and I hear them, and I hear their request, and I move forward,” she told Guardian Media in a phone interview.
“As it relates to the state of the guild, we are in desperate need of auditing in that place: audit of the guild administrative office, audit of the Guild of Students, audit of the administration of the University of the West Indies, especially those who deal with the portfolio of the Guild of Students.”
Moses said she planned to make an official report with evidence to UWI St Augustine Principal Prof Rose-Marie Belle Antoine soon.
When contacted yesterday, Prof Belle Antoine said she had heard of the vote but said the administration “could not and should not” get involved.
She confirmed that she was unaware of the concerns about the administration’s handling of the guild’s financial accounts and denied funds had been misappropriated.