NWC board to speak on fate of Mark Barnett soon

The public is expected to know the fate of embattled president of the National Water Commission (NWC), Mark Barnett, soon.

Barnett was placed on administrative leave by the NWC's board of management in October last year, arising from a report by the Integrity Commission which found that he allegedly built an apartment complex in violation of building permits.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, in a ruling issued in January, stated that no criminal charges could be brought against Barnett as the time frame for doing so had passed.

At a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday morning, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda, told journalists that he anticipates that the board of management of the NWC will make a statement on the matter soon.

"I would expect the board to comment on the matter soon, as they're going through their assessment and reviewing their legal options, because it is a matter that does have legal options in front of it," he said.

He did not indicate a timeline for the statement.

While noting that he "shares the concerns of the public" and "the national assessment of the situation", Samuda stated that he would limit his comments on the matter.

However, he also sought to assure that the board of the NWC "followed the processes outlined under our labour laws, and our internal procedures faithfully".

Meanwhile, minister with responsibility for information, Robert Morgan, pointed out that government ministers are not responsible for disciplining public servants.

"Ministers have zero influence, contact or anything to do with disciplinary procedures relating to public officers. It is outside of our remit as policy makers to interact with that process," he said.

-Sashana Small

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com