An intervention from the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), has helped to settle an outstanding matter between the University of the West Indies and a local contractor.

The matter relates to the UWI Open Campus in Kingstown, and local contractor, Mike Gibson.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves spoke on the matter last Sunday, May 8 as a guest on WE FM’s ‘Issue at Hand’ programme.

Gonsalves began by reading from a letter dated April 19, which was sent to him by UWI vice chancellor, Sir Hillary Beckles.

The prime minister revealed that, “Mike Gibson, the contractor, was out of pocket with VAT,”adding that this was “the university’s responsibility.”
As a result of the issue, Gibson had failed to hand over the keys to officials at the UWI Open Campus in Kingstown.

According to Gonsalves, Gibson was not willing to hand over the keys “until he is cleared with the tax people, because the tax people were on his back.”
The prime minister said he was unaware of the situation until “pretty late.”

“So I suggested a straightforward solution.”

He said he intervened, because the university “does not have the money right now.”

The government therefore paid the outstanding VAT.

Gonsalves added that Gibson has subsequently handed over the keys to the premises which was completed several months ago.

In his letter, Sir Hilary expressed deep appreciation for the intervention of the prime minister’s and government and their support and goodwill towards the tertiary education institution.

Gonsalves said there are more than 600 students attending the UWI Open Campus in Kingstown and that government pays the tuition cost for most of them.