More of SINU’s internal ‘dirty laundry’ keeps coming out
GOVERNMENT-sponsored students who owed the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) more than $3 million in meals and accommodation costs in 2020 were issued credit notes, it was revealed this week.
The latest revelation was made by the Business Investment & Commercial Services (BICS) Finance Officer, Jimmy Harry in a letter addressed to the Director of Human Resources, Noelyne Biliki.
Anger punctuated Mr. Harry’s letter. It would appear he was asked to respond to some allegations brought against him by the Human Resources department.
In his letter, Mr. Harry revealed that in Semester 2 of 2020, SINU’s Finance Department issued more than $3 million in credit notes to students, who owed SINU the cost of meals and accommodation, the letter dated 25th August 2021, shows.
Solomon Star has obtained a copy of the four-page letter.
“Let me tell you some facts maybe you do not know. Semester 2, 2020, Mr Watson Buare, Director Finance (Ag) intentionally had made credit notes to students (SIG) sponsored of $19, 600 who were accommodated (at the SINU hostels) and had meals (at the SINU Mess).
“The reason why I said intentionally was because there were lots of students whom he gave the credit notes to,” Mr. Harry said.
Accommodation and Meal charges per student per semester at the time were $25, 200. He also provided a list of the students to whom Mr. Buare allegedly provided credit notes.
In accounting, credit notes represent a discount given to a customer after he or she complained about the level of service received or items he or she had bought.
It is opposite of debit notes.
It is unclear how SINU which is owed accommodation and meals costs could turn around and provide credit notes to the students.
Mr. Harry provided a list of the students who were given the credit notes.
“Attached is the list of students whom Mr. Watson had given the credit notes, total of $3 million-plus that was a great loss to SINU and that is fraud. He should be the one to receive a letter from you but nothing happened. Why?,” an angry Mr. Harry said.
“He should be the one to receive a letter from you but nothing happened, why? He cannot deny this fact (as) no junior Finance staff could have done this. I personally asked Mr. Gordon (Revenue Officer) and … and it was confirmed from the former BICS Manager that it was the Director of Finance (Ag), Mr. Watson Buare who did it.
“Watson is still working, come on, what is wrong with you and the SINU Management? Furthermore, Mr. Frank Lui had exhausted our BICS hostel budget of $600, 000-plus by ordering materials and electrical tools and appliances
“Where are the materials, electrical tools and appliances, (yet) he did not receive a letter from you. Come on, what is going on,” he said.
By ALFRED SASAKO
Newsroom, Honiara
