The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

SUSPENDED Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said yesterday that none of the union’s funds was misappropriated or wrongfully spent as she called on teachers to elect representatives of her team to office in Thursday’s election.

Mrs Wilson was suspended last year pending the results of a police investigation into alleged violations of union procedures.

She had previously been suspended amid allegations that more than $1.1m from the union’s pension and savings account was wrongfully spent.

A source told The Tribune yesterday that the police have completed its investigation into the matter and that the file concerning the matter is now before the Office of the Attorney General.

Another condition that must be met before Mrs Wilson’s suspension can be lifted is that a forensic audit must be completed.

That report, a source said, is also “basically” completed. It is likely to be presented at the union’s 69th annual general meeting.

Acting BUT President Zane Lightbourne said Monday that the media shouldn’t give credence to what Mrs Wilson says with regard to her team seeking a position on BUT’s executive body because she is a suspended officer.

Nonetheless, in a statement released on Tuesday, Mrs Wilson defended herself and vouched for her team, although the position of president will not be on the ballot.

She said: “After an almost two-year-old suspension, allegations, innuendos, slander, libel, and misinformation to the members and the public; after three forensic audits covering the period 2008 -2015 from two separate auditors, namely HLB Galanis & Co and Baker Tilly Gomez, there is no money missing from the union, no money was spent by the president or any of the other two officers for personal use, all the money spent was for or on behalf of the union and all financial transactions to access money was done in accordance with the union’s procedure.”

Among the allegations being levied is that “overpayments” were made in connection with the construction of the BUT’s $1.3m building in Grand Bahama.

To this, Mrs Wilson said: “Ironically, some of the same officers who have made these allegations are signatories on requisitions which were used to access the money which was used for the Grand Bahama multi-purpose complex. This building is the first edifice built by the Bahamas Union of Teachers in 44 years.”