For months, students at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, have asked the same question: where did the money go? The Guild of Students has had no Buss Gas during exams. No Fresh Cash to help students clear balances. A Hurricane Melissa relief effort that insiders described as an afterthought. Now, the Guild's own Financial Report for Semester One — covering June to December 2025 — provides the clearest answer yet, and it is damning.

Campus Reporter has reviewed the official Treasury Report in full. What it reveals is a Guild executive that in several key portfolios either spent nothing at all, or in one critical case, spent so far beyond its means that it consumed funds that were never its to spend.

The Games Committee: Over a Million Dollars Gone

The most significant finding in the Treasury Report concerns the Guild's Games Committee, chaired by Anthony Myrie — who has since been elected as an incoming Vice President for the 2026/2027 academic year. According to the report, the GCC spent $2,690,802.44 during Semester One. The report states plainly in its disclaimer section that the GCC went over its semester budget by $1,792,802.44 and over its overall annual budget by $1,260,802.44.

To put that in plain terms: the committee that runs the Champions' League football tournament spent over one million dollars more than the Guild had budgeted for it across the entire year, in just one semester. The report offers no detailed breakdown of how those funds were spent, saying only that the allocation was directed toward "sponsorship support for student activities."

The consequences of that overrun did not stay contained within the GCC's portfolio. Guild sources have told Campus Reporter that monies earmarked for Hurricane Melissa student relief and for welfare projects including Buss Gas and Fresh Cash were redirected to cover the GCC's bill.

Keshawn McGrath: The VP Who Spent Nothing

Perhaps the most striking finding in the Treasury Report is what is not there. Keshawn McGrath, who served as Vice President for Physical and Social Infrastructure — a portfolio that includes security, infrastructure, and physical student welfare — recorded zero expenditure for the entire semester. His allocation sat completely untouched.

This is the same Keshawn McGrath who has now been elected Guild President for 2026/2027. It is the same VP who, according to Hall Chairman Rajay Bennett at Guild Debates, was unaware that Elsa Leo-Rhynie Hall's security guards had been withdrawn by the university — leaving residents vulnerable for months. McGrath did not deny his ignorance when confronted publicly.

The Full Portfolio Picture

The CEAC also overspent its semester budget by $378,794.77. ELR Hall utilised $154,128 but submitted no details on how the funds were used — a gap the report flags explicitly in its disclaimer.

What Students Were Told, and What the Report Shows

Throughout the year, Guild leadership offered various explanations for the absence of Buss Gas and Fresh Cash — insufficient sponsorship, a difficult financial environment. What the Treasury Report now makes clear is that the Guild was not simply short of funds. It was haemorrhaging them in one committee, while other portfolios sat on unspent budgets and delivered nothing.

The incoming Guild administration under President-elect Keshawn McGrath inherits this financial picture. Anthony Myrie, whose GCC overrun is documented in the very report that covers his predecessor tenure, now enters as incoming VP with a sponsorship brief. Campus Reporter will be monitoring closely.

Students with information about Guild financial management are encouraged to contact our newsroom confidentially at newsroom@campusreporter.news.

Administrative and technical staff at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, staged protest action on Monday, April 13, 2026 — and returned again on Wednesday, April 15 — gathering at the main campus entrance to demand answers on delayed salary increases and a breakdown in communication from both their union and university management.

Their slogan said everything: "No Money, No Work, No Exam." With examination season underway, the message to the institution was blunt. The workers expressed frustration over what they described as ongoing delays, with the only formal response from management being a memo asking for patience while the institution awaited feedback from the Ministry of Finance.

Management Responds — Professor Marvin Reid Leads Engagement

Campus Principal Professor Densil A. Williams was travelling on university business when the second protest began on April 15. In his absence, Acting Deputy Principal Professor Marvin Reid led the Executive Management team in meeting directly with representatives of the protesters.

According to a statement subsequently published by the UWI Mona official social media account, protesting workers confirmed they had not received sufficient communication from their union regarding the current status of the Comprehensive Salary Review. Management used the meeting to walk through the full process in detail, including where negotiations stood with the Government of Jamaica.

The outcome: protesters agreed to give administration a reasonable timeframe to complete engagement with the Government of Jamaica and conclude negotiations with all unions. Management, for its part, committed to continued engagement with all stakeholders and thanked staff for their "continued vigilance."

What Students Need to Know

A protracted dispute between UWI management and administrative staff has direct consequences for students. Administrative staff process registration, manage financial records, support examination logistics, and keep the institutional infrastructure functioning. Any sustained breakdown in relations raises legitimate concerns about service continuity, particularly during the examination period.

Campus Reporter will continue to track the Comprehensive Salary Review process and its resolution.

Keshawn McGrath is now Guild President of the University of the West Indies, Mona. After a campaign season that many students described as underwhelming, McGrath crossed the line to claim the top student leadership position on campus, supported in the incoming executive by Anthony Myrie and Jermaine Francis, both elected as Vice Presidents.

The Guild Elections 2026 were held on Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20, following debates at both the Western Jamaica Campus on March 11 and at the Mona Campus on March 18. Nominations opened and closed on March 11-12.

McGrath was challenged for the presidency by Elsa Leo-Rhynie Hall Chairman Rajaye Bennett, nominated by outgoing External Affairs Chair Nickanya Brown-Patrick and LRH Chairwoman Rebecca Jagessar. McGrath's nominators were Kahlia Bryan and Dante Hines.

The Race That Mattered Most

The VP-Services and Special Projects race produced perhaps the most charged contest of the election cycle: Nickanya Brown, the outgoing External Affairs Chair who had publicly raised concerns about sexual harassment on campus and levelled allegations about the GCC's financial management at Guild Debates, ran against Anthony Myrie — the outgoing GCC Chairman whose budget overrun is now confirmed in the Guild's own Treasury Report. Myrie won, nominated by Martineil Bartley and John Sinclair.

Jermaine Francis won the VP-Properties and Special Initiatives race against Ryhs McGowan. The incoming Treasurer is Lianne Williams, the outgoing Treasurer, who ran unopposed. The new Games Committee Chairman is Daunte Samuels.

What the Incoming Executive Inherits

McGrath inherits an institution with no Buss Gas programme, no Fresh Cash initiative, a security infrastructure that was underfunded under his own VP tenure, a Treasury Report that documents catastrophic financial mismanagement, and a student body that has been without meaningful Guild communication for weeks.

His incoming VP for sponsorship — Anthony Myrie — presided over the overrun that caused those failures in the first place. Campus Reporter will hold this executive to account from day one.

Kimberly Simms, who served as the UWI Mona Guild of Students' Public Relations Officer for the 2025/2026 academic year, tendered her resignation effective September 22, 2025 — barely weeks into the academic year. Her letter, obtained and published in full by Campus Reporter, is one of the most damning indictments of Guild Council culture in recent memory.

Simms entered the role with stated ambitions: three flagship campaigns — Up Your Brand (championing student entrepreneurship), Level Di Liquor (responsible drinking culture), and Not Asking For It, a campus anti-sexual violence initiative. She also championed Guild TV as the official media house of the PR Committee.

What the Letter Says

Simms alleges a Taylor Hall event was arbitrarily deemed "not a Guild event" and blocked from the GuildTV page — only to later be circulated on a smaller platform to avoid competing with "Inte." She alleges her campaign Not Asking For It was criticised as "too gloomy" and nearly excluded from the Tent City booth. She alleges executives circulated peers' comments describing her work as "foolishness" and "nonsense."

More seriously, she alleges that homophobic remarks and "devious sexual lies" about her private life were facilitated through Guild group chats by the Cultural and Communications Committee. She also alleges that her PCOS diagnosis was used as a pretext to deny her accommodation during orientation — with the accommodation first promised, then silently withdrawn, with her health condition reportedly not even relayed to the relevant parties. She was later accused by an executive member of being "in breach of the constitution" if not present at Tent City, despite her health circumstances.

Simms further alleges she was subject to a meeting that she describes as an "ambush" — emails were circulated to select executives excluding her, instructing them to list grievances against her publicly. Sensitive lines from her own letters of concern were read aloud in meetings. She was reportedly warned that continued documentation would be treated as an "attack on the office of the President."

The Results, and the Irony

Despite these conditions, Simms' letter documents remarkable results: GuildTV grew from hundreds of views to hundreds of thousands of engagements, gained nearly 500 new followers, and the Guild page reached 1.7 million views and 1,719 new followers under her team's management. These were achieved, she writes, with only "a few hands and borrowed equipment" — basic resources like microphones and cameras were repeatedly requested and never provided.

The entirety of GuildTV, Up Your Brand, and select members of Not Asking For It resigned alongside her. The Treasury Report for Semester One confirms that the PRO portfolio recorded zero financial activity for the entire semester.

Campus Reporter reached out to Guild President Roshaun Wynter for comment. No response was received at the time of publication.

Editor's note: The resignation letter contains a disclaimer that its contents represent Kimberly Simms' personal experience and perspective, and should not be treated as statements of fact about any individual. Campus Reporter publishes it in the public interest. The Guild President and those named in the letter are welcome to respond via editor@campusreporter.news.

On April 1, 2026, Omolora Wilson made history. Elected National Chairman of the National Youth Council of Jamaica following a voting period on March 27-28, she became the first woman ever to hold the position. Her victory post — 1,313 likes, 102 comments, 108 shares — declared: "I do not take this responsibility lightly. A history making moment, becoming the first woman to be elected. To whom much is given, much is expected."

Mary Seacole Hall — where Wilson has been associated — was among those celebrating, congratulating her on "becoming the first woman to serve as National Youth Council Chairwoman." Her campaign, branded #WalkTheWilsonWay, ran under the slogan: "With Omolora You Should K.N.O.W."

The History on Campus

Omolora Wilson served as UWI Mona Guild President for two consecutive terms — 2022/23 and 2023/24. On campus, however, her legacy is inseparable from one decision that cost her the trust of large sections of her student constituency.

In May 2024, Campus Reporter broke the story that Wilson had signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement with the university administration, binding herself from informing students that UWI Mona was planning a 35% fee hike for the 2024/25 academic year. The NDA was revealed not by Wilson herself, but through sources present in Guild Council meetings where she disclosed its existence.

The proposed increases — reaching as high as 50% for Irvine Hall under concession agreements with 138 Student Living — were significant and directly affected students' financial planning and living arrangements. When the story broke, student protests erupted on campus, with demonstrators carrying signs reading "Degree Not Debt" and "Fees Must Fall." Wilson could not be reached for comment by Campus Reporter at the time.

Sources present confirmed that Wilson had applied to become a Resident Advisor — an administrative role under the Office of Student Services and Development — during the same period, raising additional questions about her relationship with university administration during her presidency.

Where Credit Is Due

The campus record is not entirely negative. Wilson's two terms included meaningful advocacy work, and External Affairs under her associated network demonstrated real community engagement. Her achievement in becoming the National Youth Council's first female chairman reflects genuine political talent and national credibility.

On campus, however, the NDA chapter remains unresolved. No public accounting has ever been given for the decision to sign it. Whether her historic national victory changes the calculus of how UWI students assess her legacy is a conversation the campus will have to have for itself.

The University of the West Indies, Mona campus, has lost one of its most beloved figures. Dr. Tomlin J. Paul, Deputy Principal of UWI Mona, passed away peacefully at his home earlier this month, leaving behind a legacy that stretches from the lecture halls of Kingston to the research corridors of Rwanda.

A Caribbean Man Who Crossed Every Border

Born the youngest of nine children in Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Paul joined UWI Mona as a lecturer in 1990. Over three decades, he rose through Senior Lecturer in Community Health, Director of the MBBS programme, Deputy Dean, and Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences from 2017 to 2021. He served internationally as Dean at the Global University of Medicine in Turks and Caicos and at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda, before returning to UWI Mona as Deputy Principal in August 2023.

The World Organisation of National Colleges and Associations for Family Physicians recognised him as a five-star doctor. Under his leadership, the Faculty of Medical Sciences earned the ASPIRE-to-Excellence Award in Medical Education from the Association of Medical Education in Europe. He co-authored more than fifty academic publications.

The Funeral: Rain, Tributes, and a New Award

On Monday, March 23, mourners gathered at the University Chapel in St. Andrew. UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles attended alongside Principal Professor Densil Williams, who recalled Dr. Paul's unwavering purpose on his return: "It was Tomlin's desire to ensure that all students who entered our beloved UWI were able to succeed at whatever they wanted to do."

Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences Professor Joseph Plummer announced the establishment of the Dr. Tomlin Paul Award — an annual accolade for the faculty member who best embodies service, humility, and a commitment to excellence.

His sons — Andrew, Tabeal, Jared, and Joshua — delivered eulogies that painted a portrait of a father who always showed up. Stepson Nathaneel Gooden summed up the man simply: "A true healer and teacher by nature. He always sought to make you feel understood and that you mattered."

Dr. Paul is survived by his wife Debra Paul and his family. He is mourned by a university community that will feel his absence for years to come.

A book of extraordinary historical significance — one that has been maintained without interruption since the founding of Chancellor Hall at the University of the West Indies, Mona — has gone missing, Campus Reporter can reveal.

The founding induction book was gifted to the hall by Princess Alice of Athlone and the university at the time of the hall's creation. Each year since, new residents have been inducted and their names recorded in its pages — a living document of everyone who has called Chancellor Hall home, stretching back to the hall's origin. Among its recorded names are current Prime Minister Andrew Holness and a significant number of current Members of Parliament, many of whom were inducted as students and signed the book in their own hand.

According to sources within the hall, the book was last seen before the start of the current academic year. The alarm was raised by a block representative, who requested anonymity for this report. The source described the discovery of the book's absence as deeply troubling, given the irreplaceable nature of the document.

Hall Chairman's Response

Emelius Watson — Chancellor Hall's current chairman, who served as Guild Cultural and Entertainment Affairs Chair in the previous academic year — has been made aware of the situation. Campus Reporter contacted Watson for comment; we will update this story when a response is received.

What Is at Stake

The founding book is not merely a ceremonial artefact. It is a primary historical document that connects the current generation of students to every generation that preceded them and to the institution's deepest roots. Its loss — if permanent — cannot be undone. The names, signatures, and records it contains are irreplaceable.

Campus Reporter calls on Chancellor Hall's management, the UWI administration, and anyone with knowledge of the book's whereabouts to treat its recovery as a matter of institutional urgency.

If you have any information about the whereabouts of Chancellor Hall's founding book, please contact Campus Reporter in complete confidence at newsroom@campusreporter.news.

Block Runci — Chancellor Hall's football outfit, carrying the Runci FC banner — are the 2025 UWI Mona Guild Champions League champions. In a tournament final confirmed on January 8, 2026, they defeated the Fraternity of Butchers in what the GCC described as "the ultimate showdown" — weeks of intense battles, late-game magic, and history-making performances culminating in a final that delivered on every promise.

For Runci FC, it was the first Champions League final appearance in their history. They entered the showdown as underdogs against the Butchers, who had dispatched the previous year's champions to earn their spot. Runci stepped onto the stage hungry, confident, and ready to shock — and they delivered.

Carlos Cooper: The Double

The GCC named Carlos Cooper both MVP and Top Goal Scorer of the tournament — a clean sweep that the GCC described as "a performance that defined and dominated." Alex James won Best Goalkeeper, and Elijah Whyte — described by the GCC as making himself "quickly at home" in Champions League — won Most Outstanding Debutant.

The Tournament That Broke the Bank

The on-field story is one of triumph. The off-field story is one the Guild would rather bury. The Guild's own Treasury Report for Semester One 2025, reviewed by Campus Reporter, confirms that the Games Committee — chaired by Anthony Myrie — overspent its annual budget by $1,260,802.44. That overrun directly contributed to the Guild being unable to fund Buss Gas, Fresh Cash, and adequate Hurricane Melissa relief.

Myrie has since been elected incoming VP with a sponsorship brief. Block Runci are champions. The students who needed feeding during exams are still waiting.

Taylor Hall claimed the UWI Sports Day 2026 championship at the Mona Bowl on Thursday, March 5 — a result that extended the hall's sporting dominance and served notice ahead of the UWI Games in Trinidad later this year.

The event was billed as more than just an annual competition. The Pelicans — UWI Mona's sports programme — described it as "the warm-up before the war," framing Sports Day as the opening act of UWI Mona's Road to Intercol. With UWI Games 2026 scheduled for Trinidad, the stakes were clear: spikes laced, halls ready, pride on the line.

Cardiff McKenzie: Most Outstanding Sportsman

Cardiff McKenzie of Taylor Hall — celebrated by the Stallion Republic fraternity — was awarded Most Outstanding Sportsman for the day, recognised at the 2026 UWI Student Awards Ceremony on April 11. His performance was described as "a true display of determination, athleticism and competitive spirit." Michael Clarke was separately awarded UWI Sportsman of the Year at the same ceremony.

Additionally, D'Andre Mills of the Fraternity of Roosters received two Certificates of Outstanding Contribution for his sub-committee service under the VP-PSI portfolio — and collected Taylor Hall's Cross Country Intramural trophy on their behalf.

Sponsors

Sports Day 2026 was supported by Jammin Good Food, Double 7, Popeyes, Cal's, Mighty Malt, and the University Bookshop.

UWI Mona's attention now turns to the UWI Games in Trinidad. Campus Reporter will be on the ground for that campaign.

The Reggae Boyz are out. A 1-0 defeat to DR Congo on March 31 — broadcast on FIFA+ — ended Jamaica's World Cup qualifying campaign and with it, the hopes of a generation of Jamaican football supporters who had dared to believe this time might be different.

The Jamaica Football Federation posted pre-match: "One flag. One voice. One team. From Kingston to the diaspora — the nation stands behind the Boyz." The nation had indeed stood behind them. The result did not hold.

DR Congo scored the only goal that mattered, and Jamaica could not find a response. The defeat confirmed that Jamaica's World Cup dreams are once again deferred, extending a qualifying record that has long frustrated the island's football community despite the undeniable talent in the squad.

What It Means for Jamaican Football

For UWI and UTech students who represent some of the most passionate football supporters on the island, the result stings with a particular familiarity. Campus discussions in the days following the defeat centred on questions of squad management, tactical preparation, and the structural challenges facing Jamaican football at the national level.

Amal Knight — a UWI Mona graduate and a figure well known to the campus community — was among those associated with the Reggae Boyz's journey. The road to the next qualifying cycle is long, but it begins now.

The UWI Mona Guild Games Committee has published the final Intramural points standings for 2025/26, and Taylor Hall are your Halls of Halls champions — the inter-hall championship that crowns the premier residential hall across all GCC-sanctioned sports competitions for the academic year.

Taylor Hall's six-point margin over ELR Hall belies what was a fiercely contested race across multiple sporting disciplines throughout the year. The GCC noted that "every game was an opportunity to learn, every loss drove us to win more, every win reminded us of why we started — and now the points reflect the story we've created."

Taylor Hall's sporting dominance extended to Sports Day, where they also claimed the overall championship. Their Intramural title adds to a year that firmly establishes them as the hall of record for sporting achievement in 2025/26.

If there was any doubt about whether UWI Mona could host a world-class entertainment event, Crimson Red: The Lion Order answered that question decisively on April 4, 2026. Produced by Block Aye — Chancellor Hall's entertainment outfit — with the endorsement of the Faculty of Humanities and Education Guild Committee, the concert brought Sizzla Kalonji to the heart of campus alongside a roster of emerging and established Jamaican talent.

Sizzla Kalonji, a figure who has shaped roots and conscious reggae for three decades, drew significant crowds from across the campus community and beyond. His presence at UWI Mona underscored a growing trend of student organisers securing internationally recognised acts — raising the bar for student entertainment programming and signalling to the broader industry that the campus market demands respect.

The Full Bill

Supporting performers included Yaksta, King Izem, Annae, Avantae, and GRVMNT — a lineup that reflected both the breadth of contemporary Jamaican music and Block Aye's instinct for curation. Sponsors including Red Bull, Rasta Afari, and Marijuata backed the production, lending it a professional finish rarely seen at student-organised events.

Tickets were accessible: early bird at $1,500 JMD, pre-sold at $2,000, and gate entry at $3,000. That pricing structure — keeping entry within reach of the student body — is part of what made the event the cultural moment of the academic year rather than an exclusive showcase for those who could afford it.

What It Means

Block Aye has in recent years positioned themselves as one of the most ambitious student-run production outfits in Jamaica. Crimson Red: The Lion Order represents what may be their most significant achievement to date. It is also a reminder that the most vibrant cultural life on this campus has consistently been created by students, not institutions — a distinction worth holding onto as the Guild reckons with a year of institutional failure.

ASAP Witty — the Jamaican dancehall artist known online as @wittywtf and @asapwitty — uploaded his official music video for "Friday Night" on April 17, 2026. Within weeks, it had accumulated 66,559 views. For an independent student artist operating without major label backing, that number represents something real: an audience that is growing, and a sound that is connecting.

The video was produced by Budhai x Emelio Records, with Executive Producer Bussweh — the same creative collaborator behind much of Witty's previous work. Cinematography and VFX were handled by XHAN SHOT IT, with B-camera and behind-the-scenes by JDB Films. It is a fully professional production — not a bedroom video, not a phone clip, but a proper visual that treats the music with the seriousness it deserves.

The Journey Here

Witty joined YouTube in January 2017 and has accumulated 6,726,498 total views across his channel — a body of work built over nearly a decade. He first gained wider attention through collaborations with comedy act Prince Pine, before dropping a steady stream of originals that showcased his range. In late 2024 he surprised with "F*cked Up" — a rock-infused banger produced by Tjtorry and Bussweh that stepped completely outside traditional dancehall boundaries. Early 2025 brought "Louis V," directed by Bussweh Visuals. Each release built the catalogue; "Friday Night" may be the one that breaks it open.

"Friday Night" is available on Spotify and Apple Music. Follow Witty on Instagram and TikTok @wittywtf, and YouTube @Asapwitty. Campus Reporter will be watching what comes next.

When the Essential Notes seminar was announced for March 12, 2026, at Neville Hall Lecture Theatre — N1, Faculty of Humanities and Education, it promised to be a significant academic and industry event. What actually unfolded exceeded even the most optimistic expectations.

Presented by Demonie 'Squidell' Wilson — author of Essential Notes: A Glimpse into the Reality of the Music Industry — the seminar was designed to provide students and aspiring professionals with insider knowledge of Jamaica's music landscape. The announced panel was already formidable: Grammy and Oscar Award-winning music executive Natalie Prospere; Grammy Award-winning producer Ainsley 'Notnice' Morris (who gave early career breaks to Popcaan and produced the Grammy-winning track "Robbed" on Julian Marley and Antaeus' Colors of Royal); and Jesse Royal — the two-time Grammy-nominated artist whose album No Place Like Home earned him his second nod at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2026.

Gary 'Riga' Burke joined as talent manager and booking agent, while the panel was guided by Dr. Dennis Howard (UWI Mona) and ZJ Sparks. The event was co-presented by APT10 Artistic Production, the Institute of Caribbean Studies, and The University of the West Indies.

The Surprise Appearances

What truly electrified the room were the surprise appearances. Popcaan — who rose from Vybz Kartel's Gaza Empire to collaborations with Drake, Young Thug, Burna Boy, and Gorillaz — made an unannounced appearance, sending the audience into a frenzy. Chi Ching Ching, Govana, and other prominent figures from the industry also appeared, transforming an already exceptional academic event into a genuine cultural moment.

For students of music, cultural studies, and Caribbean studies, the seminar offered rare access to practitioners at the highest levels of an industry Jamaica exports to the world. Essential Notes: The Seminar stands as one of the most substantive academic-meets-industry events UWI Mona has hosted in recent memory. One hopes it will not be a one-off.

A new queen reigns at the University of Technology, Jamaica. Nastasia Barrette, a 24-year-old third-year Information Technology student in the Faculty of Engineering and Computing, was crowned Miss UTech Jamaica 2026 during a coronation ceremony held at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium.

Originally from Browns Town in St. Ann and a past student of St. Hilda's Diocesan High School for Girls, Barrette emerged victorious from a competitive field of eleven contestants. The pageant began around 8:30 p.m. and ran close to midnight, featuring an opening dance performance, contestant introductions, and a series of segments before the final crowning.

For Barrette, the win is about more than a title. She spoke of the bond forged among contestants — an experience built on encouragement and sisterhood rather than rivalry. She was particularly emphatic in thanking family members who helped her rehearse and build confidence in the weeks leading up to the ceremony.

As Miss UTech Jamaica 2026, Barrette takes on a representational role within the university community, engaging with campus events, outreach activities, and student-focused initiatives. Campus Reporter extends congratulations to her and all eleven contestants who competed.

For months, residents of Elsa Leo-Rhynie Hall at UWI Mona have been without security guards at their hall — after the university withdrew them from the building. The withdrawal was known to hall residents, known to the Hall Chairman, and known to university administration. The one person who did not know, it emerged at Guild Debates, was the VP in charge of the security portfolio: Keshawn McGrath.

Hall Chairman Rajaye Bennett raised the issue directly at Guild Debates, using the public forum to publicly challenge McGrath for his failure to be aware of a security development that directly affected the safety of hall residents. McGrath did not deny his ignorance when confronted.

The revelation was particularly significant given that the Treasury Report for Semester One later confirmed that McGrath's VP-PSI portfolio — which includes security — recorded zero financial expenditure for the entire semester. A VP who neither spent any money on his portfolio nor knew about a critical security failure in one of the campus's main residential halls.

A Pattern at ELR Hall

The security failure was not the only controversy to emerge from ELR Hall this year. According to sources within the hall, the Hall Secretary was allegedly removed from their position after falling out with Hall Chairman Rajaye Bennett. Campus Reporter understands this is not the first time Bennett has been at the centre of such allegations: the previous academic year saw Chancellor Hall — where Bennett then served as Deputy Chairman — hold a Tribunal after he allegedly attempted to unconstitutionally remove committee member Aneka Whyte from the Hall Committee. Bennett did not respond to Campus Reporter's request for comment at the time of publication.

Keshawn McGrath is now Guild President. The residents of ELR Hall are watching what he does about the hall that was left unguarded on his watch.

Exam season is here and the Guild is silent. Students studying through the night at the Taylor Hall study lounge, the Science Library, and common areas across campus are doing so without the one thing that has historically marked the Guild's care for its students at their most stressed: Buss Gas.

Buss Gas — the annual programme through which the Guild feeds students during the examination period — has not happened this year. Fresh Cash — the grant initiative through which the Guild helps students clear outstanding balances at the Financial Services Unit — has also been cancelled. Both programmes have been confirmed as casualties of the Guild's financial disaster: the Games Committee's $1.26 million budget overrun consumed funds that had been allocated for welfare.

The Vice President responsible for these programmes — and for securing the sponsorship that funds them — was Keshawn McGrath. The Treasury Report for Semester One confirms that McGrath's entire portfolio recorded zero financial expenditure for the semester. He is now Guild President.

What Students Are Saying

Student reactions campus-wide have ranged from disappointment to outrage. "I'm studying on empty stomach sometimes," one second-year student told Campus Reporter. "Buss Gas was the one time I felt like the Guild actually remembered I existed." Another student described the absence of Fresh Cash as "the most direct way I've ever felt abandoned by a Guild I pay fees to support."

The Guild has made no public statement on the absence of either programme. Campus Reporter has contacted the Guild President's office for comment; we will update this story when a response is received.

When Hurricane Melissa made landfall and devastated communities across Jamaica in November 2025, the question of who would step up for affected students was one that the UWI Mona Guild was slow to answer. The institutional response took weeks to materialise, and when it did, insiders described the supplies distributed — largely items from the food bank — as inadequate, with minimal Guild funding directed to the relief effort.

While the Guild worked out its response, Shaquille Ramsay was already on the ground. By December 18, 2025 — 37 days after Melissa's landfall — Ramsay's relief operation had reached 5 parishes, 33 communities, 2 shelters, 1 hospital, and 1 nursing home across Jamaica, ensuring that relief was not just promised but delivered.

The Numbers

In the first 30 days of operations, the effort distributed: 5,250 care packages; 4,350 meals cooked and distributed; 1,450 blankets; 1,350 tarpaulins; 300 clothing packages; 192 power banks; 230 packs of diapers. Additionally, families received kerosene oil, candles, brooms, mops, and toiletries. By December 18, 590 cases of water had been distributed, with a target of 1,000 additional cases committed to communities still in need.

A Christmas Treat for children affected by Melissa was also organised at Petersfield High School, Westmoreland, on December 21 — bringing comfort and joy to families in the recovery period, during a season that could easily have passed them by.

The Guild's Response, by Contrast

The Guild External Affairs Committee, chaired by Nickanya Brown-Patrick, eventually travelled to Beeston Spring, Westmoreland, partnering with Trinidadian NGO ITNAC Missions to distribute 100 relief packages and operate a soup kitchen. The EAC received the Outstanding Performance in Service award and the UWI Special Award for Sustained Initiative at the 2026 Student Awards Ceremony in recognition of this work.

It was meaningful. But it came against the backdrop of a Guild that had redirected money earmarked for student relief — including hurricane recovery funds — to cover the GCC's budget overrun. The contrast between institutional response and individual action was not lost on the student community.

At Guild Debates, Nickanya Brown-Patrick — External Affairs Chair and a senior member of the outgoing Guild executive — spoke about her own experience of sexual harassment on campus. She had a platform, and she used it. What followed demonstrated precisely why speaking out remains so difficult.

Her remarks triggered an immediate backlash from male supporters of GCC Chairman Anthony Myrie — the same Myrie whose Champions' League budget overrun was the subject of heated exchanges at the same debate. The backlash against Nickanya was personal, pointed, and — for many women watching — deeply familiar.

Female students spoken to by Campus Reporter described a campus environment where harassment is common, reporting mechanisms are unclear or distrusted, and speaking publicly carries a social penalty. Several asked not to be named, citing fear of further targeting.

"You see what happened to Nickanya," said one third-year student. "You speak up, and people come for you. Not to prove you wrong — just to shut you up. Why would anyone put themselves through that?"

The Formal Mechanisms — and Why Students Don't Use Them

UWI Mona has formal channels for reporting sexual harassment, including the Office of the Dean of Students, Counselling and Psychological Services, and the Equal Opportunity Unit. In practice, students expressed limited faith in these mechanisms — concerns centred on perceived slow pace, uncertainty about outcomes, and the reality that on a tight social campus, "truly anonymous" may not be achievable.

The incoming Guild administration has an opportunity to make campus safety a genuine priority. Whether it will requires watching.

Students who wish to share experiences or information, on or off the record, may contact Campus Reporter at newsroom@campusreporter.news. All communications are treated with full confidentiality. Campus Reporter will never identify a victim without explicit written consent.

Sabrina Barnes has been named this year's recipient of the UWI Premier Student Award — one of the highest honours bestowed on students at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. The award was presented at the 2026 Student Awards Ceremony, held on Saturday, April 11 at the Assembly Hall and Undercroft.

Barnes is currently pursuing her LLB degree at UWI Mona, while simultaneously working as Assistant HRM at PBS Jamaica, operating as a freelance marketer and project manager, and serving as Social Media Manager for UWI's Office of Student Services and Development. She is also the Curator of the Period Poverty Passion Project — a UWI Mona initiative addressing menstrual equity and access for students facing financial hardship.

The breadth of her engagement speaks to a student who has found ways to make her education meaningful beyond the lecture hall — combining academic rigour with civic purpose and professional development in a way that reflects exactly what the Premier Student Award is intended to honour.

The 2026 ceremony was themed "A Legacy of Excellence, A Future of Possibilities" and featured live performances and a post-event cocktail experience. Among other honours at the ceremony, Klavier Simpson received the UWI Premier Award for Culture (Female) — hosting the ceremony and performing with QUBE (the UWI Performing Arts Collective) on the same night. Michael Clarke was named UWI Sportsman of the Year.

Campus Reporter extends its congratulations to Sabrina Barnes and all recipients honoured at the 2026 Student Awards Ceremony.

Let's be honest about what happened. The 2026 UWI Mona Guild Elections — by almost every measure that matters — were a disappointment. The presidential race, which should be the most energising contest on campus, felt like a foregone conclusion with little genuine debate about vision, track record, or what either candidate actually planned to do for students.

Keshawn McGrath won. But the campaign season that preceded his victory was defined more by the absence of accountability than any compelling statement of intent. McGrath's record as VP — zero expenditure on his portfolio, a security lapse he didn't know about, no Buss Gas, no Fresh Cash — should have been the central question of the presidential debate. It was not interrogated with anywhere near the rigour it demanded.

The debates — held at WJC on March 11 and at Mona on March 18 — did produce at least one genuinely significant moment: Nickanya Brown-Patrick's public account of sexual harassment on campus, and the backlash it generated from supporters of Anthony Myrie, which in itself became a news story. But beyond that, the debates were notable for what they failed to demand: real answers, backed by evidence, about a year of institutional failure.

Voter engagement on campus has been declining for years. The solution is not more posters and more WhatsApp groups. It is candidates and Guild councils that actually demonstrate, in action, that winning the election means something. Until students see that evidence — not just in campaign promises but in delivered welfare programmes, transparent financial management, and genuine advocacy — the apathy will continue to be rational.

The views expressed in Campus Voices represent the opinion of the author. Campus Reporter welcomes responses and counterarguments at editor@campusreporter.news.

Keshawn McGrath served as Vice President for Physical and Social Infrastructure for the 2025/2026 academic year. The Guild's own Treasury Report confirms that he spent $0 — zero dollars — from his portfolio allocation during Semester One. Not a small amount. Not a partial disbursement. Zero.

His portfolio was responsible for security, infrastructure, and student physical welfare. Under his watch, Elsa Leo-Rhynie Hall had its security guards withdrawn by the university — a development that he did not know about until Hall Chairman Rajaye Bennett raised it publicly at Guild Debates. McGrath did not deny this. The residents of ELR had been living without security for months. The VP in charge of security was unaware.

The Buss Gas programme — which has fed students during exam season for years — did not happen this year. Fresh Cash — which helps students clear financial balances — was also cancelled. Both required VP-level engagement on sponsorship. Neither was delivered.

The Champions' League, chaired by Anthony Myrie — who is now McGrath's incoming VP — overspent the annual budget by $1,260,802.44. Those funds were redirected from student relief money. The people who approved that budget, managed that process, and had oversight responsibility for it were the outgoing Guild executive — of which McGrath was a central member.

And the students of UWI Mona elected this man Guild President. This is not an indictment of student judgment — it is a statement about the choices presented to them, and about the institutional failures that allowed a record of non-performance to go largely unchallenged through an election cycle.

Keshawn McGrath has an opportunity to prove that he can do in the Presidency what he did not do in the Vice Presidency: show up, spend the money allocated to student welfare, know what is happening in the halls under his care, and be accountable when he gets it wrong. The students are watching. Campus Reporter is watching. The receipts are already in the file.

Walk past the canteen at 10pm during exam season and count the students who are there not because they want to be, but because they have nowhere else to go and nothing else to eat. Some of them are using their last $300 on a box juice and a bun to get through another five hours of studying. Some of them haven't eaten a proper meal since this morning. Some of them have tuition balances they can't pay and meal plans they can't afford.

Buss Gas was never just free food. It was a signal. It was the Guild saying: we see you in your hardest weeks, and we're here. It was institutional acknowledgement that exam season is brutal, that many students do not have the financial buffer to eat properly while studying, and that the university experience should not require choosing between food and passing your exams.

This year, that signal was not sent. The Guild went silent. No Buss Gas. No Fresh Cash. No communication explaining why. The Treasury Report tells us: the Games Committee spent $1.26 million more than it was allowed to, and the money that was supposed to feed students ended up clearing a football tournament's overdraft.

The students sitting in the library at midnight with empty stomachs did not overspend the GCC's budget. They did not fail to secure sponsors. They did not choose to leave their hall without security guards. They paid their Guild fees, attended their lectures, showed up for their exams, and expected — as they have every right to — that the organisation funded by their fees would remember they existed. It didn't.

The incoming Guild executive under Keshawn McGrath will face this test from day one: bring back Buss Gas, bring back Fresh Cash, and demonstrate that the Guild's welfare function actually functions. Until it does, this is not a Guild. It's a bureaucracy that throws parties and loses money.

There is something almost poetic about losing a race by four votes. Not a landslide. Not a comfortable margin. Four votes. The difference between Davian McAnuff and the Chancellor Hall Chairmanship this year — which went to Tyreke Foster — was four people. Four people who cast their ballots and, collectively, wrote the final chapter of one of the more committed student leadership careers on this campus.

Last year, McAnuff ran for Guild Vice President. He lost to Jemario Facey — who this year was himself elected Vice President at the Guild level. That contest was described by observers as hotly contested, genuine, and earnest on McAnuff's part. He came close. He came back. He ran again at the hall level, for the Chairmanship of Chancellor Hall. He lost by four votes.

There are two ways to read this. The first is as tragedy: a dedicated student who gave years to campus leadership, ran multiple competitive races, and came away with nothing. The second — and we think the more honest one — is as something closer to retirement with full honours. You cannot do more than run twice and lose narrowly both times. At that point, the student body has delivered its verdict with as much gentleness as a ballot can offer. Close, but not quite. Thank you, but no.

Tyreke Foster is Chancellor Hall's Chairman. He won the race cleanly and deserves to be acknowledged: Deputy Chairman of the same hall, he earned his promotion. But this piece is for Davian. The campus saw you. The effort was real. The legacy is that you ran — twice — and you nearly had it both times. That is not nothing. That is something.

Congratulations, Davian McAnuff, on a career in student leadership that was fought with everything you had. And congratulations on the retirement that four votes secured for you. Some doors stay closed for a reason.