The Education Ministry has denied reports that documents were destroyed in a bid to hamper probe into the Caribbean Maritime University.

An investigation was launched into the operations of the university after controversial payments were made to at least one person linked to former education minister Ruel Reid through the school

Head of the CMU Fritz Pinnock has gone on leave while the probe continues.

A release from the ministry states that all documents related to the ministry’s engagement with the CMU have been made available to the relevant authorities as requested.

It added that in keeping with normal Cabinet office procedures when there is a change in ministers within an administration or when there is a change of government all Cabinet documents issued to outgoing minister(s) are to be destroyed and a certificate of destruction with the list of the documents disposed of presented to the Cabinet office.

The ministry says this procedure was followed earlier this year consequent on a directive dated April 3, 2019 to acting Permanent Secretary Dr. Grace McLean from the Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador Douglas Saunders, following the resignation of then Senator Ruel Reid as minister of education, youth and information.