The police are now investigating reports that a student at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, allegedly made an estimated $1.5 million from the sale of illegitimate carnival tickets earlier this month.

Speaking with THE WEEKEND STAR yesterday, a well-placed source in the university's Guild of Students said the 'fake tickets' were sold during the institution's recent carnival festivities from March 20 to 22.

"What happen was that the guild had ordered 3,500 tickets for the events, 1,500 for J'Ouvert, 1,500 for the beach event and 500 season passes," the source said. "After that order was made, the person contacted the ticket company and ordered 1,500 additional tickets."

mysteriously went missing

The source said that on March 20, the guild stamp, used to certify the tickets, mysteriously went missing. Shortly afterwards, presold and discounted tickets were available for sale.

"The guild did not offer presold or discounted tickets. The J'Ouvert ones went for $500, the beach party ones for $800 and the season pass for $2,200," the source said. "So the person actually got a hold of the stamp to use it on his/her tickets to make it more convincing. To this date, the stamp is still missing."

"The person who is responsible must have made well over a million dollars from those tickets," another guild member said.

While the person being accused of the scandal has denied the claim, one guild member confirmed that a formal complaint was logged with the principal and the deputy principal of the institution.

When contacted Joseph Pereira, deputy principal at the university, said that they were made aware of the situation and that Assistant Commissioner of Police Keith 'Trinity' Gardner, director of security at the institution, is looking into the matter.

Pereira said that as soon as they receive a report from the police officer, the institution will take the necessary steps in confronting the culprit(s). Several attempts to contact ACP Gardner were unsuccessful.