Former WITU President Stuart Johnson welcomes progress in CBA criminal investigation

GREAT BAY--Former President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU), Stuart Johnson, says confirmation that the criminal investigation into the alleged disappearance of nearly NAf. 2 million from the Charlotte Brookson Academy for the Performing Arts (CBA) has entered its final investigative stage represents a long-awaited step towards justice and accountability.

“Finally, we are one step closer to justice,” Johnson stated. “For the staff, students, parents and everyone who genuinely cares about the future of CBA, this development brings renewed hope that the truth will be fully established and that anyone found responsible will be held accountable in accordance with the law.”

The Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that the remaining investigative actions are being completed and that a decision regarding prosecution will follow. The Police Force of Sint Maarten is also reportedly in contact with the school regarding additional information required for the investigation.

Johnson recalled that on August 13, 2023, while serving as WITU President, he publicly sounded the alarm regarding the troubling situation at CBA. At that time, he raised specific questions about the school’s financial management, the status of its financial support, whether staff members had been properly informed, whether a contingency plan was in place and who had assumed responsibility for the school’s financial affairs.

Those concerns were formally reinforced in a detailed WITU letter dated November 20, 2023, titled “WITU vs CBA.” The letter was addressed to the President of the CBA Board of Directors and submitted to the then Government of Sint Maarten, Parliament, the CBA Board, WITU representatives and other relevant stakeholders.

Among those formally copied were the then Prime Minister, the Ministers of Education and Finance, the Chairperson and members of Parliament’s Education Committee, members of the CBA Board, members of the WITU Board, school management and other relevant education stakeholders.

“That letter placed the seriousness of the situation squarely before the Government, Parliament, the CBA Board and all relevant stakeholders,” Johnson said. “No one could reasonably say that the concerns were not raised or that the possible consequences for the institution, its employees, its students and taxpayers were not clearly communicated.”

The November 20, 2023 letter addressed the reported loss of funds, the apparent absence of adequate checks and balances, the need for institutional accountability and the potential consequences for CBA’s financial stability. It also raised concerns about unresolved pension matters, staff conditions, financial oversight, possible conflicts of interest and the need for a credible financial recovery plan.

“I made it clear then, and I repeat today, that my actions were never personal, political or intended to damage CBA,” Johnson stated. “They were grounded in my responsibility as WITU President to protect educators, safeguard students and demand accountability concerning an institution entrusted with public funds.”

Johnson noted that the letter specifically questioned how such a significant alleged loss could have occurred without adequate financial controls detecting or preventing it. WITU also called for those entrusted with the governance and financial oversight of the institution to acknowledge their respective responsibilities.

“Accountability cannot begin and end with one individual,” Johnson said. “Any complete examination must also determine whether the required systems, safeguards and supervisory controls were in place, whether warning signs were missed and whether those entrusted with oversight acted promptly and responsibly.”

He stressed that the advancement of the criminal investigation should not be treated as a conviction and that the presumption of innocence and the right to due process must be fully respected. However, he maintained that due process must ultimately produce a clear and timely conclusion.

“Justice requires fairness, but it also requires action. An allegation involving nearly NAf. 2 million intended to support the education and development of our children cannot be allowed to disappear into silence or endless delay,” Johnson said.

“Every guilder intended for education represents opportunities for our students, resources for our teachers and stability for our schools. When educational funds are allegedly taken or mismanaged, it is our children and hardworking educators who ultimately pay the price.”

Johnson commended the individuals who initially brought the financial discrepancies forward, as well as those who continued pursuing the matter despite the length and complexity of the investigation. He also called for the separate inquiry by the Government Accounting Bureau, SOAB, to be completed and for its appropriate findings to be transparently addressed.

“As former WITU President, I remain firm in the position I took publicly on August 13, 2023 and formally documented in the letter submitted on November 20, 2023: the wellbeing of the staff and students must always come first, and those entrusted with educational institutions and public resources must be held to the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability,” Johnson said.

“This is not yet the end of the process, but it is finally one step closer to justice. I look forward to a lawful, transparent and decisive conclusion that protects the integrity of our education system, restores public confidence and ensures that the full truth is brought to light,” Johnson concluded.

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