Reported By: Gina Shillingford
Students at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) raise concerns over student representation following a press release made by the Students’ Union notifying the public of multiple vacancies. These emerged from May 2026 leading up to July 27, 2026, coinciding with the university moving forward with new financial policies.
Said changes have left several leadership positions vacant, including the School of Computing and Information Technology representative, formerly held by Ms. Lisa Taylor. These developments, which date back to May, have prompted questions about transparency amongst the student body.
“If these roles have been vacant since May, just weeks after the election, why are students only hearing about it now?” said Tonoya Campbell, a UTech student. “These positions exist to represent students’ voices, so leaving them unfilled for months raises questions about whether students have been fully represented and why this wasn’t communicated sooner.”
These concerns are particularly significant as this marks the second consecutive year where major vacancies exist. Last year, three positions on the Board of Executives were vacant, including Vice President, Finance and Vice President, Public Relations, which were filled by appointed persons rather than by-election as per the constitution. Vice President, Finance, a prominent role, is currently vacant as no candidate ran in the 2026 election.
The Students’ Union had initially announced the changes in press releases published on July 28. However, the releases were deleted from their social media pages the following day without a formal explanation to the public as to why.
Commenting on the issue, former Students’ Union President, Rick Darby emphasized the importance of transparency and communication.
“As a Past President of the UTech, Jamaica Students’ Union, I understand that leadership is not defined by the absence of challenges, but by how those challenges are managed and communicated,” Darby said. “Every administration will face difficult moments. While I will not speculate on the reasons behind the removal of the recent advisory regarding Council vacancies and resignations, it is understandable that students may seek clarity. The Students’ Union is built on the trust of its members, and that trust is strengthened through clear, timely, and transparent communication. Transparency does not mean sharing everything, but ensuring students have confidence that matters are being handled responsibly. Administrations will come and go, but the credibility, integrity, and purpose of the Students’ Union must always remain the priority.”
Among the deleted posts was a release stating the resignation of Ms. Lisa Taylor, after failure to appear before the Students’ Union’s Disciplinary Board.
The Students’ Union President, Joel Brown, was contacted to comment regarding changes in leadership; whether they’d affect the Union’s ability to advocate effectively and what underlying issues rendered leadership incapable of fulfilling their obligations. During the time of publication, no response was given.
The announcement of these changes comes at a time when the University of Technology, Jamaica’s administration and the Students’ Union are engaged in negotiations over the increase of the Economic Contribution Deposit (ECD) from JMD $40 000 to JMD $60 000 to the agreed JMD $50 000.
Some students question the Union’s ability to effectively represent student interests during these negotiations. Others applaud the work done so far.
“I think the Students’ Union is doing what it was elected to do. Based on the information we have received from the Union, I believe it has been advocating on behalf of the students by rejecting the university’s proposal and standing firm on its own initial proposal,” said Alfred Fuller, a former SOBA/JDSEEL representative candidate.
As the official representative body for UTech Students, the Students’ Union plays a central role in advocating on behalf of the student population. The recent vacancies have sparked discussion among students regarding governance, accountability and communication. For many, greater transparency will be essential in maintaining confidence in the organisation and its leadership.