The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

LONG Island MP Adrian Gibson’s former fiancée told the Supreme Court yesterday that he failed to disclose his interest in companies awarded Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) contracts and was paid monthly for work completed.

Alexandria Mackey gave evidence under cross-examination by defence attorneys Damian Gomez, KC, and Murrio Ducille, KC, during the ongoing trial tied to WSC contracts.

She said Gibson had formed multiple companies, including Elite Maintenance and Oak Bay Limited. She added that she ensured WSC contracts were completed and that subcontractors were paid.

In the lead-up to the arrests of Gibson and his co-accused, Ms Mackey told Mr Ducille she was concerned about reports circulating in the local media.

She said Tanya Demeritte became a shareholder in one of the companies in 2020, replacing her after she left.

Ms Mackey denied defence claims that she was roughed up while in police custody for fraud. She said she was scared, but not because she was assaulted.

Mr Ducille suggested she was threatened by Assistant Commissioner of Police Deleveaux and told she would be charged if she did not cooperate. Ms Mackey rejected this, saying she was never threatened.

She also denied encouraging Ms Demeritte to plead guilty to her charges.

On Tuesday, Ms Mackey told the court her mother paid the $10,000 fine Ms Demeritte faced in these proceedings.

Ms Mackey said she and Gibson’s company was responsible for painting the George Moss Building and Somerset House. She claimed Gibson benefitted from the arrangement and that his failure to declare his interest in the companies was an offence.

She explained that Gibson was not named on official documents, but said he directed the companies’ operations behind the scenes.

Ms Mackey previously testified that the companies had no employees and that Gibson handpicked subcontractors to carry out the work. She said he instructed her on how the companies should be run, both in person and through emails.

She agreed with the defence that she handled the banking for the companies.

When pressed on what proof she had of Gibson’s involvement, Ms Mackey said she had emails from him giving instructions, including on how to deal with Top Notch. She also said communications related to his car rental company in Long Island supported her claim.

While she agreed with the defence that she did not defraud anyone by collecting money for work completed by the companies and that she was entitled to it, she said Gibson was unjustly enriched.

She said Gibson was at fault because, as chairman of WSC and a sitting member of parliament at the time, he was required to disclose his interest in the companies but did not. She said this represented a conflict of interest.

Ms Mackey said Gibson had responsibilities as an MP that she did not, but said he still collected money from the companies. She claimed bank statements showed he benefitted.

She said Gibson received $1,750 a month from Silver Lining Enterprises and that the company was paid by WSC.

She said money from Elite Maintenance was transferred to Silver Lining and that she was instructed by Gibson to obtain funds.

However, she agreed with the defence that the money was legitimately obtained by the companies for work done on water tanks and building painting.

According to Ms Mackey, Baha Maintenance was paid $248,326.40 to paint the George Moss Building and Somerset House, but the subcontractor, Sparktacular, received $74,000.

She said Baha Maintenance was also paid $538,660.08 for refurbishing two water tanks.

Ms Mackey said that, on Gibson’s instructions, Elite Maintenance made a $125,000 deposit on a property at Shirley Park Avenue.

She said she took Gibson’s word as gospel.

Mr Ducille suggested Ms Mackey came to court to save her “Hyde” and would do whatever it took to implicate Gibson. She disagreed.

Mr Ducille also suggested that neither she nor any of the accused did anything wrong and noted the trial had been ongoing for nearly three years.

Ms Mackey was shown share certificates for Oak Bay Limited for Joan Knowles and Jerome Missick, who were listed as secretary and director, respectively.

She agreed with the defence that she did not produce any share certificates, board directives, or minutes linking Gibson to the company. She also agreed that no corporate documents presented showed Gibson owned Oak Bay.

Ms Mackey maintained that Gibson was the beneficial owner, but said this was not reflected in corporate documents. She said she did not have a copy of the trust deed.

She also said that in the run-up to the 2021 general election, Gibson met Knowles in his grandparents’ kitchen and gave her money.

Ms Mackey denied that the evidence she gave on Tuesday was fabricated.

Mr Gomez said that in July 2021, Ms Knowles transferred $138,148.22 from Oak Bay Limited to her own account. On that basis, the defence argued there was no reason for Knowles to receive money from Gibson.

Gibson, the former executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation, has been on trial since November 2023 alongside Donaldson Jr, a former general manager, Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson, and Jerome Missick over contracts awarded during his tenure.

Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson is presiding.