The

Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) has announced a reduction in tuition fees

across all faculties, but the news comes at a time when the institution is

marred by scandal.

The

Palisadoes-based university’s Students’ Union, which had been lobbying for a

reduction in fees for months, was gearing up last Wednesday, October 9, to

share news of their successful negotiations with the 4,000-plus student

body.

That

breakthrough was largely overshadowed by CMU President Professor Fritz Pinnock

getting arrested just hours later by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force

(JCF).

“Your students’ union body is pleased to advise that there has been a six percent reduction in the tuition fees across all faculties,” an advisory from the students’ union stated.

“This

consensus was arrived at subsequent to a meeting that was held with the

university’s management. The necessary adjustments have been made and students

are advised to proceed with their payments,” a section of the advisory

continued.

The

embattled CMU president was taken into custody along with its legal adviser,

Sharen Reid; her husband and former Education Minister Ruel Reid; their

daughter, Sharelle Reid; and Brown’s Town Councillor Kim Brown Lawrence.

The five were detained in simultaneous pre-dawn raids at their homes in St. Andrew, St. Catherine, and St. Ann last Wednesday and booked on charges including for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act, conspiracy to defraud, misconduct in a public office at common law and breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act.