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College Bursar: Cafeteria & Road Town Bakery are drain on college

- Ms. Moore said cafeteria expenses are $910k & Road Town Bakery $1.2 million for 2012!
The HLSCC Road Town College Bakery is own and operated by the college. The Bursar reported to the SFC that it as well as the Cafeteria are a drain on the college. The Bakery for 2012 estimated expenses will be 1.2 million dollars with income of only a mere $727, 000. Photo: VINO
HL Stoutt community college President Dr. Karl Dawson said it takes about 19 million dollars to run the collage and if all students goes for free it will cost $16-17 million dollars. Photo: HLSCC
HL Stoutt community college President Dr. Karl Dawson said it takes about 19 million dollars to run the collage and if all students goes for free it will cost $16-17 million dollars. Photo: HLSCC
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The H. L. Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) is now a subject under the Ministry of Education and Culture. Appearing before this year’s Standing Finance Committee (SFC) to defend its government subvention College President Dr. Karl Dawson told the body that he receives 11 million dollars from central government.

However, Dr. Dawson, when asked by Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA, about his major expenses out of the 11 million dollars given by Government, the president said “that would be salaries”.

The college Bursar Ms. Ursula Moore provided the SFC Members with a break down as follows: Salaries for full time Instructors - $2.1 million Salaries for part time instructors - $596,000

Salaries to support staff - $5.3 million

Furthermore, besides the big tag for salaries, Ms. Moore told the Parliamentary Committee during her H. L. Stoutt College presentation that capital expenditures were; Furniture and Equipment $456,000, improvement to Capital assets, $122,000 and IT $348,000.

The President told the Members that he has about 165 full time staff. Of this there are 35 full time faculty members, they then typically hire another 50-60 staff part time on a semester basis. Mr. Dawson said 40-50 full-time staff are persons who work in the food and beverage operations, the others would be administrative support and grounds, facilities, maintenance officers, as well as administrative officers.

On the issue of free tuition enacted by the National Democratic Party government the last time in office (2003-2007) was also an issue. The Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie W. Skelton stated that he was the Minister of Finance when the tuition was made free and the whole philosophy of making tuition free is totally different from what he is hearing now. “We sat down with the then board and then President and told them we want to make tuition free for any BVIslanders who wanted to come to HLSCC once they meet the eligibility. We asked what does it take to fund the college with this in mind, a number was given and all the other people who do not qualify will have to pay tuition to the college”, the former Finance Minister told the committee.

The Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. D. Orlando Smith asked the President what does it cost to run the college? To which Dr. Dawson replied $19 million. Dr. Smith asked if everyone was free how much would it cost to run the college to which the President replied it would be about $16 million. Dr. Dawson said “I mention 19 million because of how behind we are in respect to some capital aspects.”

When further pressed by the Minister for Finance Dr. Smith on what is the cost of running the college if everyone was free, BVIslandsers and none BVIslanders, the President’s response was 16 -17 million dollars.

Road Town Bakery and Cafeteria are the drain on college

Territorial Member Archibald C. Christian asked about other sources of revenue, such as the Cafeteria, Road Town Bakery, and Auditorium. The Bursar replied she did not have the detailed breakdown but the total income for 2011 was $2,368,019 which are from beverage sales, food sales, commission from vending machine and interest, rental of college facilities, textbooks, tickets sales and top up from the mobile companies.

Honourable Christian then asked what the projected profit was, and between the Cafeteria and the Road Town Bakery which one was the most drain, to which Ms. Moore replied both the Cafeteria and the Road Town Bakery are the drain. She said the Cafeteria’s projected 2012 revenue is $539,000 but expenses are projected to be $910,000. For the Road Town bakery, income is projected at $727,000 but expenses of 1.2 million dollars.

Honourable Christian asked what was the plans for those two organizations to which the Minister for Education and Culture Myron V. Walwyn told the HOA committee appointed to examine the 2012 draft Estimates that it will be worked out in-house and “it's good to have a Minister who has a background in food and beverage”.

25 Responses to “College Bursar: Cafeteria & Road Town Bakery are drain on college ”

  • uk student (02/04/2012, 07:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    My gosh another run away train
  • Notes...... (02/04/2012, 08:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow can't believe that at all, especialy the Bakery
  • critic (02/04/2012, 08:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    its obvious that the dance cant pay for the lights
  • That's the truth (02/04/2012, 09:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    They are too unfriendly there in the cafeteria, thats why they are loosing money left, right and center. Rude and have no manners.
  • voter (02/04/2012, 09:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What I want to know is how much of the 165 full time wokers are locals…maybe less then 20!
  • Guest (02/04/2012, 09:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Those figures for the bakery do not sound accurate, I think another audit of a HLSCC facility is due........
  • dominant (02/04/2012, 10:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I do also think that there should be proper accounting and auditing of this particular area. Something just not adding up.
  • SHARA PARLIN (02/04/2012, 10:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    deman some body must be building a house over seas..expenses are what? 1.2 million for a li lil bakery? someting worng ayo playin & jokin...goodness gracious
    • Umm (03/04/2012, 06:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Something sound a lot wrong there. Doesn't sound right. For the number of persons I does see in there, although them have shift, the figures sound funny.
  • Logic (02/04/2012, 10:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It makes pefect sense actually....there prices where relativly low....to low actually.....and if your a consumer thats great (cause u just dont care) but if this was a legitimate business that had to compete fairly with other businesses in the area....they would have gone broke a very long time ago.......a shame really.....they need to shut them down....or even lease them
  • Zoot Suit (02/04/2012, 10:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How could an establishment selling quality food possibly run at a loss? Poor management, I say!
  • Music (02/04/2012, 10:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the bakery is really losing that much and cant be turned around - shut it down! There is no point in having a facility running at a loss, especially if it is not for the benefit of staff and students (the bakery in town Im talking about).
  • man talk (02/04/2012, 11:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    These numbers are very correct. They were advised to lease those two properties on several occasions to generate some sort of revenue which never came in even when NECI was there. The two outlets are all over staffed.
  • Well Sah (02/04/2012, 13:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Maybe if that bakery would stop buying their cakes and so forth from Puerto Rico and started making everything themselves again the expenses would be less.
  • talk show hosts (02/04/2012, 15:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    something smell fishee about this...it meeds to be investigated...where is the PAC????
  • Supporter (02/04/2012, 15:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree that the bakery is poorly managed. Senior employees takes advantages of leaves and basically does no work yet collecting a grand pay. This is just an area that has to be investigated. Yes its expatriates at the bakery at $5.50 per hour. As for the math:- $5.50 per hour at 40 hours week =$220. X 4 = $880. p. month. The bakery should not be operating at a lost, is someone stealing? After all, wasn't the messenger sentenced to 12 months for stealing $60,000. for 25 missing deposits? That is only 25 out of how many hundreds of deposits that should be made annually. AGAIN CHECK THE MANAGEMENT!
  • lol (02/04/2012, 15:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ok it cost 19milion to run now but if everybody go free it will cost 16 to 17milion to run. me ra$$ss LOL. that to tell you how educated the pepole who educating peple is
  • hawk (02/04/2012, 17:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    HOA need to get to the real questions: ask how many educated bvilanders get push outter the college since the bully push out the predecessor ask how cleaners at the college getting pay more than government executive officer ask how much secretaries get paid ask if the college have a human resource director ask why the bvi world class chef was insulted to the position facilities manager ask why the man personal fluff team bigger than the premier own ask why the college have a vice president when cousins run things ask why the college ship sinking ask to show something more than wild spending and thiefing to prove the college is competent
    • ... (02/04/2012, 23:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Good questions to keep them honest. The only problem is they lie so much that you won't know the truth if you don't ask the ones who get pushed out or the ones who are not in the clique.
      • Hello (03/04/2012, 15:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        How you know them sea cats so good? That college got a underworld like nowhere
  • point is??? (02/04/2012, 23:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i do not understand Myron's point???? so what if he has a background in food and beverage??? who the hick cares????
    • Johnson & Wales (03/04/2012, 10:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Duhhhhh.... With a background in Food & Beverage Management, F&B outlets shouldnt be the highest expenditure line items of the college. He should have seen this from early and try to correct it, instead of making a fool of himself infront of today's GOV. The problem is that these people think that Government money is coming from a bottomless pit. The college needs straightening up!! Too much thieves and cover ups..
  • Road Town Resident (03/04/2012, 14:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I must say the RT Bakery has some of the best food and patries and the staff is professional. Sad to know it operating at a lost.


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