Mark in deep water
EMBATTLED National Water Commission (NWC) President Mark Barnett is now facing an uncertain future in the job he has held for more than seven years after Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) agreed with the findings of the Integrity Commission (IC) that he breached the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act and the Building Act on the construction of a housing development he did in conjunction with his wife Annette Francis-Barnett.
Barnett has been on administrative leave since October after the IC released its report into allegations of impropriety at the development at 11 Charlemont Drive, Kingston 6.
With the release of the DPP’s report on Thursday, minister with responsibility for water Matthew Samuda, in response to questions from the Jamaica Observer, said that he has taken note of the ruling but he was not yet in a position to comment.
“The board of the NWC has sought legal advice on the ruling and will meet in short order to discuss the way forward. Barnett was previously sent on administrative leave related to this matter,” said Samuda.
“The public will be informed as soon as the board has concluded its meeting,” added Samuda.
Barnett was appointed NWC president on August 1, 2015 after serving the company in a number of senior engineering roles.
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