Phoenix fiasco

Several parents, whose children either still, or formerly attended, the Phoenix Academy Jamaica, have retained attorneys and filed a complaint with the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) over an investment programme being run at the embattled institution.

On Monday, The Gleaner revealed that administrative staff, parents and students were locked out of the school after the landlord changed the locks at the gate and placed a notice there.

According to its social media pages, Phoenix Academy is a privately operated institution which focuses on differentiated and individualised instruction for students two to 12 years. The school is not associated with Phoenix All Stars Football Academy.

The parent of a former student, who still has ties to the school by virtue of the investment programme, claimed the institution has failed to pay back several million dollars demanded by its investors.

“We [are] talking about millions of dollars, millions. Not one, not two, three, four or 10, over $40 million collectively with parents,” said the parent, who asked not to be named.

The Gleaner understands that parents received email correspondence from October to December in 2023 introducing them to the investment programme that began operation soon after, in February 2024.

Documents seen by The Gleaner indicate that parents were invited to invest in the school’s “10th Anniversary internal IPO”.

According to a letter, Phoenix Academy wanted to raise $6 million, through a partnership with a named accounting firm.

A table in the letter, outlining proposed investments and returns, indicated that $350,000.00 would earn $70,000.00 over three months. Similarly, $500,000.00 would earn $100,000.00 in three months. The returns, if annualised, would result in an 80 per cent interest rate.

“I invested $1 million in February and I got interest payments in April. I rolled over that million and invested another million to get more interest payments. To date, [the school] has paid some and more [is] outstanding,” the parent said.

Some attorneys have reportedly been trying to reach the school’s principal, to no avail.

The Gleaner understands he has not been seen for several months; However, the school has remained in operation through the leadership of another member of its administrative staff.

The parent said that all communication during the better part of the investment period was done via email, WhatsApp or telephone calls.

“Before all of this ..., it was doing pretty well... . I don’t know where [it] went wrong...,” the irate parent said.

The parent told The Gleaner that there is a WhatsApp group of parent investors who share updates about their monies.

“The group alone that I am in accumulate about $12 million. [The school] owes me $2 million - principal, plus another $700,000 worth of interest - but I am just concerned with my principal. I want back my principal that was invested. I reported it to MOCA in May, and I also told two more parents to go and report it,” the parent said.

The Gleaner understands that it took days for MOCA to get the statement because complainants had to bring in several documents.

Yesterday, MOCA, responding to Gleaner queries, confirmed that it has been made aware of the matter and received a report.

However, the law-enforcement body said “it is not MOCA policy to comment publicly on investigations or assessments that are before the agency”.

The Gleaner, however, saw a copy of a letter from attorney-at-law Sophia Bryan, who is representing Phoenix Jamaica, which was sent to investor parents.

The letter is dated May 12, 2025.

“We write to you on behalf of our client, Phoenix Academy, in relation to recent concerns raised by investors regarding the financial position of the school and the status of their investments. Our client fully acknowledges the concerns being expressed and does not take them lightly,” an excerpt from the letter reads.

“As an educational institution entrusted with the care and development of young minds, Phoenix Academy recognises that transparency, integrity, and accountability are especially important - not only to the families and staff who rely on the school, but also to the investors who have supported its mission,” the letter reads.

The attorney stated that, currently, her client is working with professional advisers to conduct a comprehensive review of the school’s finances.

“This includes reconciling accounts and confirming the individual positions of each investor. Until this process is complete, we are unable to provide specific financial statements or propose a concrete repayment schedule,” Bryan wrote.

“Nonetheless, our client remains committed to reaching a fair and responsible resolution with all stakeholders.”

Bryan said once the review is concluded, she would communicate a summary of the school’s confirmed financial position, a proposed plan to address outstanding investment concerns, and a strategic outline for the school’s operational and financial future.

“Our client’s focus remains on acting in good faith, preserving the school’s educational mission, and restoring trust with those who have supported them — including you. We anticipate providing a substantive update within 60 days. We thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we work through this delicate but important process,” the letter states.

Bryan also addressed parents at a virtual meeting held on Monday at which the topic of discussion was the lockout, which is reportedly connected to funds owed to the landlord.

In the meantime, another parent, who also moved his/her child from Phoenix and who asked not to be identified, claimed that $5 million is outstanding for him/her in the investment programme

“The parents were the ones holding down Phoenix… . We invested because a lot has been going on there,” the parent told The Gleaner.

Several efforts to reach Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, minister of education, skills, youth and information, over a two-day period proved unsuccessful.

Calls to the minister’s cell phone on Tuesday and Wednesday went unanswered.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com