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Water and Sewerage GM confirms he played a part in post-Dorian contract awards

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

AS the trial of Long Island MP Adrian Gibson and others resumed,  a defence attorney questioned Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) general manager Robert Deal about the corporation’s post-Hurricane Dorian restoration projects.

This follows his earlier testimony that WSC awarded multiple contracts during that period, some of which Mr Deal personally recommended.

Damian Gomez, KC, questioned Mr Deal about the source of funding for the projects. Mr Deal responded that the money came from the government through a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

When asked if the amount of $15 million was familiar to him, Mr Deal confirmed that it was.

Mr Gomez then inquired whether Mr Deal participated in executive-level discussions about the needs for post-Dorian work. Mr Deal confirmed that he did.

When asked if he was involved in planning other infrastructural projects, he said he was, though only occasionally.

The attorney then pressed him on whether numerous contracts awarded by the corporation’s board exceeded $250,000. Mr Deal acknowledged that some contracts likely did, but could not specify how many.

Mr Gibson has been on trial since November 2023 alongside former WSC general manager Elwood Donaldson, Jr, Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson, and Jerome Missick.

The charges stem from contracts awarded by the corporation while Mr Gibson served as WSC executive chairman.

About ten prosecution witnesses remain to testify in the case.

The defence team includes Mr Gomez, KC, Geoffrey Farquharson, Murrio Ducille, KC, Ian Cargill, Bryan Bastian, Ryan Eve, and Raphael Moxey.

Meanwhile, the Crown’s legal team comprises the Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean, and Rashied Edgecombe.

The case continues before Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson. 

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