PRESIDENT of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) Professor Fritz Pinnock, who returned to work last week, after taking leave to allow investigations surrounding the CMU in a Ministry of Education scandal, is back on special leave.

The decision followed a discussion yesterday involving chairman of the CMU Council Dr Hyacinth Bennett and Professor Pinnock, and followed criticisms Monday by Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips, who had questioned why the CMU head was back on the job although investigations into the CMU were ongoing.

In a statement last evening, the CMU said Professor Pinnock and Dr Bennett agreed that in the interest of transparency he should continue to be on leave until the investigations being conducted by the Office of the Auditor General and other agencies have been completed.

Professor Pinnock had returned to work on Monday, September 30, having voluntarily applied for and been granted leave by the CMU Council more than once in order to allow space for the investigations surrounding the CMU to be completed.

Dr Bennett said yesterday that the CMU continues to cooperate fully with the Office of the Auditor General to supply information in relation to the ongoing investigation, including requests made up to yesterday.

“The activities of the Caribbean Maritime University have been proceeding smoothly with the next major event being the annual graduation exercise scheduled for November 15,” said Dr Bennett.

While Professor Pinnock is on leave, Professor Ibrahim Ajagunna will continue to act as president and Professor Noel Brown as deputy president.