KINGSTON, Jamaica — OBSERVER ONLINE has been informed that the decision of the board of the Institute of Sports (INSPORT) to send off its administrative director Ian Andrews on leave this week, is related to concerns about the handling of pension contributions from its employees.

The issue now involves the Financial Services Commission (FSC), which has been seeking information from INSPORTS for some time now regarding the handling of its employees’ contributions to its pension fund.

Sources claim that millions of dollars in contributions from the employees cannot be accounted for, and information which has been sought by the FSC for some time now has not been forthcoming.

In a release on Monday the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES) stated that Andrews, former sports broadcaster who took up the position at INSPORTS in 2005, had been suspended from work by the Board of Directors of the institute on allegations of misconduct.

Andrews has been suspended with pay, but with immediate effect pending an investigation. He has been asked to hand over all property belonging to INSPORTS to the permanent secretary in the ministry, which now has oversight of INSPORTS until an acting administrative director is appointed.

The ministry said that it would make no further comment on the matter at this time.

Balford Henry