{"id":4886,"date":"2018-03-16T06:45:44","date_gmt":"2018-03-16T11:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/projectcalls.com\/?p=4886"},"modified":"2018-03-15T23:17:34","modified_gmt":"2018-03-16T04:17:34","slug":"water-corp-board-meddling-breached-global-best-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/water-corp-board-meddling-breached-global-best-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Corp: Board Meddling Breached Global \u2018Best Practice\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE Water & Sewerage Corporation breached global \u2018best practice\u2019 through the former Board\u2019s constant meddling and overturning of management decisions, a forensic audit has found.<\/p>\n

Ernst & Young (EY), in its probe of the Corporation\u2019s governance and management, found two occasions where contracts were awarded to vendors not selected by management despite the use of a formal tender\/bid process.<\/p>\n

Noting that both related to capital works projects financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the report said Proline Underground Utilities was awarded a $1.389 million contract despite Water & Sewerage Corporation recommending that it go to Island Site Development (ISD) following an evaluation of all bids received.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, the Board\u2019s contract committee decided to award the contract to Proline despite their bid being more than 20 per cent below the engineer\u2019s estimate,\u201d the EY report found.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cabinet [Board] noted the concern of management that the Proline bid was too low, but the minutes contained no explanation or context to address these concerns, and no justification for reversing management\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cFurthermore, a change order was processed subsequent to the contract award which increased project spend by $400,000, justifying the concerns of management and negating the apparent rationale for reversing management\u2019s decision (Proline\u2019s initial bid being lower than that of ISD).\u201d<\/p>\n

A similar incident occurred with the $1.604 million contract award to Apex Underground Utilities, as Water & Sewerage Corporation management again recommended that it be given to ISD as the \u201clowest evaluated bid\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Cabinet paper says the recommendation of the management was overturned by the Board\u2019s contract committee with no justification provided, despite the bid of Apex being significantly more expensive (approximately $500,000\/20 per cent more expensive),\u201d the EY report found. The findings raise questions over whether Bahamian taxpayers, and Water & Sewerage Corporation customers, received value for money as a result of many decisions made at the Government-owned water supplier.<\/p>\n

The report suggests that too much politically-motivated interference, and the \u2018correct\u2019 family, political and other connections, have created a culture that undermines effective corporate governance and results in the bypassing of established procedures and protocols.<\/p>\n

\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Image:\u00a0\u00a0Hilary Halliwell (Pexels<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE Water & Sewerage Corporation breached global \u2018best practice\u2019 through the former Board\u2019s constant meddling and overturning of management decisions, a forensic audit has found. Ernst & Young (EY), in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":4889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[112],"tags":[166,154,71,212],"class_list":["post-4886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-newsdevelopments","tag-bahamas","tag-conflictchallenge","tag-procurement","tag-water"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Water-Splashes-and-Streams-Hilary-Halliwell-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-1gO","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5619,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/gibson-insists-water-contract-was-clean\/","url_meta":{"origin":4886,"position":0},"title":"Gibson Insists Water Contract Was Clean","author":"Michele Marius","date":"May 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Long Island\u2019s $5m water deal went to the only bidder that \u201csubstantially\u201d met the Water & Sewerage Corporation\u2019s terms, its chairman saying yesterday: \u201cI don\u2019t believe in hanky panky.\u201d Adrian Gibson told Tribune Business there were sound reasons why the two-phase infrastructure contract was awarded to BHM Company (Bahamas Hot\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News\/Developments"","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Water-Splashes-and-Streams-Hilary-Halliwell-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Water-Splashes-and-Streams-Hilary-Halliwell-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Water-Splashes-and-Streams-Hilary-Halliwell-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Water-Splashes-and-Streams-Hilary-Halliwell-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C682&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6128,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/criminal-charges-expected-after-wsc-audit\/","url_meta":{"origin":4886,"position":1},"title":"Criminal Charges Expected After WSC Audit","author":"Michele Marius","date":"July 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Board of the Water and Sewerage Corporation has decided to bring criminal charges against certain individuals in the wake of a Forensic Audit \u00a0 that found what its Chairman termed tendering and procurement irregularities, suspected misappropriation of assets and questionable undertakings. With an update in the House of Assembly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News\/Developments"","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Handcuffs-Trouble-Police-Arrest-Offender-3839153-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Handcuffs-Trouble-Police-Arrest-Offender-3839153-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Handcuffs-Trouble-Police-Arrest-Offender-3839153-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Handcuffs-Trouble-Police-Arrest-Offender-3839153-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22208,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/collusion-and-corruption-wsc-internal-audit-reveals-red-flags-and-risky-management\/","url_meta":{"origin":4886,"position":2},"title":"COLLUSION AND CORRUPTION: WSC internal audit reveals red flags and risky management","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"May 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas A special investigation from the Internal Control and Compliance Division at the Water and Sewerage Corporation has revealed \u201chigh-level corrupt transactions\u201d regarding multiple projects and accuses a former executive member of conflict of interest and fraud. The special investigation is a part of an ongoing probe into the issuance\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/audit-g8faaf0f23_1280-e1644524531624.jpg?fit=1025%2C678&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10734,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/open-to-tender-cgb-sewerage-project-moves-one-step-closer-to-reality\/","url_meta":{"origin":4886,"position":3},"title":"Open to tender | CGB sewerage project moves one step closer to reality","author":"Michele Marius","date":"October 11, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The Cane Garden Bay sewerage project has moved one step closer to becoming a reality. The much-talked-about project is now open for tender and will remain open until 10 am on October 1. \u201cThe Government of the Virgin Islands invites all tenders for the procurement of works for Lot 2\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News\/Developments"","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Sewer-Grass-Manhole-Lid-Cover-Greg-Reese-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C673&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Sewer-Grass-Manhole-Lid-Cover-Greg-Reese-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C673&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Sewer-Grass-Manhole-Lid-Cover-Greg-Reese-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C673&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Sewer-Grass-Manhole-Lid-Cover-Greg-Reese-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C673&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3251,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/secret-cabinet-missive-exposes-another-drug-scandal\/","url_meta":{"origin":4886,"position":4},"title":"Secret Cabinet missive exposes another drug scandal","author":"Project Calls","date":"September 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u2026as Govt bypasses Tender Board to handpick ANSA McAL for $515M purchase Despite pronouncements that Government breached the laws of Guyana to award a $605 million drug contract to one of its corporate supporters, the Administration has again sidelined the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to once again\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News\/Developments"","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Confiential-folder-michael_swan-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Confiential-folder-michael_swan-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Confiential-folder-michael_swan-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Confiential-folder-michael_swan-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3252,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/govt-once-again-sole-sourcing-from-ansa-mcal-this-time-515m-in-drugs\/","url_meta":{"origin":4886,"position":5},"title":"Govt once again sole sourcing from Ansa McAl, this time $515M in drugs","author":"Project Calls","date":"September 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u2026as Secret Cabinet memo surfaces Despite pronouncements that government breached the laws of Guyana to award a $605M drug contract to one of its corporate supporters, the Administration has once again sidelined the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to once again sole source in excess of half a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News\/Developments"","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/document-agreement-documents-sign-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/document-agreement-documents-sign-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/document-agreement-documents-sign-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/document-agreement-documents-sign-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/document-agreement-documents-sign-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4886"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4895,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4886\/revisions\/4895"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}