A young professional shared with me a letter she received from the Students Loan Bureau, requesting full payment of her loan balance of over $2 million by a certain date and warning that if this is not forthcoming, her photograph will be published in the press. She explained that most of the positions she had held before getting a full-time job last year were internships offering stipends. She paid a lump sum recently and was saving to pay more when the letter arrived.
I cannot understand why a student who is not trying to hide from the Bureau and who has been communicating her employment challenges would receive such a threat. We hear of fraudulent activities in various Government agencies, of arrests, and very rarely are photographs of the accused published. Yet these young graduates, at the threshold of their careers are being subject to an action which can cause serious damage to their reputation. We would understand if the SLB were to get tough with borrowers who cannot be reached and make no effort to clear their debt, but to threaten someone who is not hiding and who is doing their best to honour their responsibility is unacceptable.
Jamaica Highlights 