Guild General Meeting = Controversy

( left& right) members of the Guild Council and students look on as some students air their concerns.

When the Guild of Students of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus held their Annual General Meeting last Wednesday,February 23rd in LT1 of the Roy Marshall Complex their was a pervasive feeling that all was not well.That feeling was transformed into reality when, after the opening prayer by Frank Worrell Hall Chairperson Mr.Carlon Mendoza,the meeting was declared in session just after 6 p.m by the Guild Secretary Ms.Heidi Badenock who acted as moderator, it was announced that Guild president Carl D.Padmore was seeking medical attention.This caused a notable stir among the modest gathering of students on hand and it would have appeared that some members of the council were also upset by the absence of the leader. Also absent from the meeting were Law Rep. Andrew Wildes,Pure&Applied Rep. Mario Vanterpoole and Part-time rep. Kidwe Sandiford with excuse. The agenda then flowed unencumbered form one presentation into another.The G.C.C Mr.Akil Dowridge gave an update on Intercampus Games followed by Vice President Mr.Odwin Trenton who gave an InterClubs update. N.A.C.C Mr.R. Ziggy Marshall gave a Carnival update and encouraged students to get involved in the various activities of U.W.I Carnival 2011.Guild Returning Officer Mr.Kezron Walters then made his contribution to the meeting, informing those present of the upcoming Guild General elections.The audience had grown considerably by the time Mr.Dario Greenidge made his way onstage for the much anticipated Treasurer's report. Students were unsatisfied with the report which was neither available in print nor via electronic media and gave general figures offering no specifics of the Guild's expenditure during the 1st semester.

The Treasurer in his defence noted that the report came directly from the Campus Bursar and that promised funds to Clubs and Societies on campus would be given before his tenure in office expires on the 31st of March. He also asked to students to be aware of the prevailing Global Economic Crisis.These explanations however were not well recieved by the now 150 odd gathering and a fiery question and answer segment followed . led by the Cave Hill Association of Post Graduate students who took the treasurer to task over allegations that they had recieved more funding than they had in actually had.With accusations been hurled at the Treasurer the moderator briefly lost control of proceedings and it was only brought back to order by R.O Walters, after several council members including P.R.O Danny Babb attempted to do so. Also fielding questions on the night was Guild P.C.C Mr.Andre Layne who was asked to defend P.C.C spending to which he gave estimates of the portfolio's expenditure as well as its revenue.The Social Sciences Rep.Mr.Damien Belgrave was also called to defend the preference of social events during his week of activities which he did with the assitance of his deputy.Student Welfare was also a major issue raised during the meeting with some suggestions ben given to improve the current system while some expressed disgust with the proportion of funds spent on welfare compared to fetes.Other issues raised included perennial concerns such as security and transportation.The meeting concluded around 9:30 p.m.