Shaw axes SLB boss

Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

THE GOVERNMENT has moved into damage-control mode as it attempts to minimise the fallout from its decision to fire Lenice Barnett, the long-serving executive director of the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB).

Barnett's 14-year reign as head of the SLB came to a sudden and dramatic end yesterday when she was fired by Finance Minister Audley Shaw.

This sparked fear of a disruption in the operations of the SLB which is in the final stage of approving loans for the looming 2010-2011 academic year.

But Government officials were quick to announce that a temporary manager will be installed today with a full-time replacement expected to be named shortly to ensure the smooth flow of the operations.

Shaw, in a terse release announcing that Barnett's services had been terminated with immediate effect, said the decision was made following a meeting with the chairman of the board of the SLB.

Shaw said he was to meet with the SLB directors this morning before appointing a temporary manager, "in order to ensure that the work of the bureau proceeds smoothly, until a new executive director is appointed".

To meet with directors

The finance minister made no comment on the reasons behind his decision to fire the woman who has been the voice and face of the SLB for more than a decade, but his state minister, Arthur Williams, later sought to justify the decision.

Williams told The Gleaner that the Public Accountability Inspectorate Division of the finance ministry conducted a recent audit of the SLB and found a number of troubling issues.

According to Williams, the audit was done based on information supplied to the finance ministry and the findings of the audit team submitted to Shaw two weeks ago.

"We found a number of serious systemic and governance issues which affected the operation of the SLB," Williams said.

He said some personal issues surrounding Barnett and questions regarding abuse of the motor-vehicle policy also impacted on the decision.

Williams was also adamant that the work of the SLB will proceed as usual despite the change in the leadership.

But that assurance was not enough for Opposition Spokesman on Education Basil Waite, who expressed alarm at the decision coming at what is perhaps the busiest period for the SLB each year.

"The Opposition is calling on the minister to ensure that all is in place for the disbursement of loans for the new school year," Waite told The Gleaner.

"Whatever the reason for the dismissal, it is another example of the wanton disregard that this administration continues to show to patriotic, competent and experienced public servants," Waite charged.

Yesterday, The Gleaner was unsuccessful in its efforts to contact Barnett, who is credited with revolutionising the SLB, and has been leading the reform process now under way.

For the upcoming academic year, the SLB is expected to grant loans to about 10,000 tertiary students at a total cost of more than $2 billion.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com