KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) has confirmed that it has taken disciplinary action against two members of the Guild of Students for their involvement in a protest staged by students who were prevented from sitting their final examinations as a result of unpaid tuition fees.

Guild of Students president Daniel Wilson has been asked to step down from his position and also barred from membership on boards and any recognised student society or club of the institution.

Chairman of Chancellor Hall, one of the residency halls here, Patrick Fenton has been placed on disciplinary probation for one year.

UWI Marketing and Communications Director, Dr Carol Edwards said the action against the two students followed a disciplinary hearing.

A UWI statement said that the two students have filed an appeal and the matter is expected to be heard soon.

In April, several students staged a peaceful protest after they were prevented from sitting their final examinations because of unpaid tuition fees.

The university had earlier warned that students with unpaid fees of J$30,000 (US$345) or more would not be allowed to sit the exams, a move that affected an estimated 1, 600 students.

The Guild of Graduates condemned the decision by the university saying that the students should have been allowed to sit their final exams.