Almost one year after allegations of sexual impropriety, physical abuse, financial discrepancies and gross neglect surfaced regarding the St Michael's School for Boys, Diego Martin, the institution’s administrator has been suspended.
Following a presentation ceremony at the International Waterfront Centre, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain, Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development, Clifton de Coteau told reporters that only one week ago the school's administrator Alison Salandy, had been suspended.
Pressed to say more on the matter, the minister asked his permanent secretary, Sandra Jones, to elaborate about the moves that were currently afoot to improve the image of the school.
Cautious in her response to the media, Jones confirmed that Salandy had been suspended following an internal, independent audit.
She said the findings had been submitted to the Statutory Authority Services Commission one month ago, and that the directive to suspend Salandy was based on instructions received after officials reviewed the auditor's findings.
The Statutory Authority Services Commission is responsible for hiring and firing of staff at all state-operated rehabilitation facilities.
Asked to provide an update on the other allegations, de Coteau said, "It is by the DPP and we want to get the results."
An investigation was launched into the school's operations after former attorney general Anand Ramlogan revealed the contents of a report relating to the circumstances which led to the death of teenager Brandon Hargreaves.
Hargreaves, 14, of Maraval, died on April 8, 2014, after hitting his head on the concrete floor of his dormitory, during an attempt to drop-kick another child. He had been sent to the school by the court.