Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

The University of Technology (UTech) today publicly apologised to members of its internal audit unit, who were sent on leave in January following the leak of an internal report to the media.

In a paid statement appearing in The Sunday Gleaner, UTech says, "The investigation into the breach of confidentiality in the internal audit unit is complete, and the university council is satisfied that the breach did not occur within the internal audit unit." The statement said investigations are ongoing in other areas of the university.

"Any inconvenience or embarrassment caused to the auditors, as a result of the way in which the breach of confidential information to the press has been reported, is deeply regretted," the statement says.

Leaked report

The audit report, which was leaked to the media late last year, outlined concerns by the university's internal auditor about procedural breaches in contract-related payments made to the president, Professor Errol Morrison. UTech's management said in January that the public disclosure of the contents of the report had resulted in death threats to Professor Morrison.

According to a statement from UTech last month, the four staff members were sent on leave to facilitate investigations into the leaked document because the audit report had originated in the internal audit unit. Therefore, it was thought to be only reasonable that the investigations into the breach should begin at the source.

Today's apology states that the council of UTech remains committed to the internal audit function as part of good governance and retains confidence in the ability and capacity of the internal audit unit to discharge its function.

Danny Roberts, deputy island supervisor for the National Workers' Union, which represents administrative staff at the university, while welcoming the apology, says he is concerned about some unwelcome developments taking place between the management of UTech and members of the internal audit unit.

In this regard, he has written to the chairman of the audit committee, Earl Samuels, requesting an urgent meeting.