The Guyana Water Inc’s (GWI) Chief Internal Auditor has had his appointment to the position revoked.
It is believed that the revocation is related to findings he produced on the procurement procedure in a contract awarded by GWI Managing Director Dr. Richard Van West-Charles earlier this year.
The corporation’s Board in late September approved the appointment of Anand Bharrat, who was employed with GWI at the time, to the position which was advertised and for which he was the only applicant.
However, on Friday he was written to by the corporation’s Human Resources Manager, Gale Doris, informed him that effective from November 1st his appointment would be revoked since it was found that the normal procedure for the appointment was not followed.
He was also informed that the position would be re-advertised and he was free to apply and that he would not have to repay the monies he was paid since the appointment.
Bharrat was appointed when Nigel Hinds chaired the board. Hinds has since resigned following differences with Van West-Charles and the seeming unwillingness of the authorities to have the corporation’s Managing Director be investigated following a number of complaints over his conduct by senior employees.
Hinds’ resignation took effect on October 26th and at a meeting on October 27th, chaired by Board member, Patricia Chase-Green, who is performing duties of chair, ad interim, it was decided that Bharrat’s appointment would be revoked.
Bharrat’s investigation into the awarding of the contract by the corporation had been critical of both Van West Charles and Doris. It has been pointed out that Bharrat’s appointment was approved by the Chairman of the Finance/Audit Committee (the Standing Committee) as a way of safeguarding the independence of the position.
It was also stated that because the Managing Director was under investigation, the Chairman of the Finance/Audit Committee and the Board were ultimately in charge given the situation.
Bharrat has been working with GWI for seven plus years.
