SMN News learnt that the director of Starlight Education, Carmen Hodge is once again in trouble with her landlord and she has not paid her monthly rent since the beginning of 2009-2010 school year.
The source said last school year; Caribbean Liquors and Tobacco came in to rescue the students attending that school when they learnt that the students were locked out due to unpaid rent. However, they paid the monthly rent for remaining of the year at a reduced price since the property owner took off Naf. 2000.00 as her donation to the school. According to information received the monthly rent for the building housing Starlight Education Foundation was rented for Naf. 8000.00 but Hodge it is understood never paid her rent, reasons why the property owner moved to court and Hodge was convicted by the courts to pay the rent, and be evicted.
The businessmen of that company made an agreement with the landlord to pay the rent for the remaining of 2008-2009 school year which ended in July last year but since then the Starlight Education and Foundation has not paid any rent and its arrears of Naf.100,000.00. Currently the foundation owes the property owner over Naf.150,000.00.
SMN News understands that the only monies the property owner received were that which was paid by Caribbean Liquors and Tobacco.
Early last year when the students were locked out of the school it is understood one of the reasons the company who never released their identity assisted is because government has agreed to subsidize the school, but so far the undocumented schools are not being subsidized by the island government. SMN News learnt a research was held and a panel discussion is scheduled for this week.
SMN News further learnt that Starlight Education received monies from AMFO (Dutch Financing Agency) during the month of December, 2009. The source said when Hodge received that money she went to make a rent payment of Naf.19, 000 but the property owner refused the rent since it is not the amount she was expecting. SMN News learnt that the property owner had only given the businessman the discount for the period to which they had agreed to pay the rent. Furthermore, Hodge was supposed to be paying Naf. 8000.00 as stated in her contract beginning this school year.
This media house also learnt that a pastor from Global Mission Church are currently negotiating with the property owner and Starlight Education since the property owner does not want to conduct any business with Hodge any longer neither the Starlight Education Foundation that does not have all the required board members on board.
