BWA in Hot Water
In recent days, Barbadians have taken to the airwaves, print and social media to express their outrage over the contents of the Auditor General’s report, and in particular, the financial operations of the Barbados Water Authority. The public has chided the fact over the period 2010 to 2018, the BWA underwent $1.49 billion in capital works projects of which 90 percent were in breach of sound procurement practices and financial management.
At the time, the BWA was governed by the Barbados Water Authority Act and the Financial Management and Audit Act which establish the governance processes including the rules for procurement. In particular, the Financial Management and Audit Act requires that procuring goods and services over $200,000 are to be put to public tender to obtain the best market price at a good value. Yet, in most instances, this stipulation was contravened which potentially exposed the BWA to exorbitantly priced contracts.
Moreover, investigations further uncovered that several governing protocols were interrupted as major decisions were made at the whims and fancies of the chairman instead of the board and other relevant departments. Equally as damning were contractual arrangements worth over $80 million which were agreed upon without the necessary guarantees from the Ministry of Finance that would assure that these contracts could be properly financed in the future.
The impact on average Barbadians
Undoubtedly, Barbadians should be troubled by the BWA’s poor financial governance as the impact is felt in their daily lives. The BWA is now saddled with considerable debt obligations that will undermine the entities’ overall operations and the public’s general well-being. Due to climatic changes and a crumbling infrastructure thousands of Barbadians face the injustice of inadequate water supply. Yet, the BWA’s ability to address these matters is now severely jeopardized as its capacity to make the necessary investments is now compromised by its debt obligations.
Holding persons accountable
Since the report has been published the Minister of Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams has called for a full investigation and the implementation of legal proceedings including criminal prosecution where warranted as “public officials can no longer be above investigation and prosecution”. Integrity Group Barbados welcomes the Minister’s statement and applauds the efforts to commit to good governance under his management thus far. However, these changes must be buttressed by the full public disclosure and the assurance to implement action against those who have broken the laws and regulations that govern the BWA.
The Minister and government must commit
The recent exposè of the BWA’s poor financial governance follows similar charges that were publicized in October 2018. Likewise, there was considerable public outrage and a forensic financial investigation was commissioned but to date no punitive actions have been taken which requires an explanation by the Minister. What Barbados could least afford is yet another report, audit, investigation, and commission of inquiry that has failed to deliver prosecutorial results. Ultimately, Barbados does not need another temporary dust-up, a passing headline or political pageantry, but rather perpetrators who are brought to justice for their misdeeds.