Wastewater Management Authority: 14 employees suspended in 2 years

Ivan Collendavelloo, Minister of Public Utilities, listed various investigative committees set up by the management of the Wastewater Management Authority in order to shed light on allegations against 14 employees from 2015 to 2017. He was replying to a question in Parliament on Tuesday.

Rs 223,000 have been disbursed by the Wastewater Management Authority (WMA), to finance four enquiry committees, from 2015 to 2017. The very first dates back to July 20, 2015. The WMA disbursed Rs 55,000 for a committee of inquiry composed of J. Ghooria, Senior Engineer, P. Lutchmeah, Accountant and R. Gundhiya, Senior Safety and Health Officer. This committee was set up to elucidate the involvement of a man named M.D. Driver in an accident with a vehicle of the organization. After the work of this committee, the WMA, on June 22 last, decided to terminate the contract of this employee.

Another committee of inquiry was set up on 7 April last year to shed light on allegations of mismanagement at the Roche Bois Pumping Station against a Divisional Manager. A disciplinary committee was established under the supervision of J. Neerunjun, former director of the Ministry of Labour, Michel King Fat, lawyer and Y. Appasamy, Principal Engineer at the Central Electricity Board. Although two of its members did not charge any fees at the time, a third one charged Rs 15,000.

A committee of inquiry was also established, consisting of Andrew Stephenson, accountant, K. Dhondee, lawyer, B. François, lawyer and D. Singaravelloo, secretary. In this case, Ivan Collendavelloo pointed out that Rs 42,000 were paid only to the secretary and that the work is still ongoing, with new elements added to the file.

Another committee was set up, on October 21, 2016, for an Assistant Works Inspector. The employee was accused of taking leave without authorization. However, he was reinstated on 13 December. A disciplinary committee was established on 21 October 2016. The committee was chaired by N. C. Pillay (lawyer). He was assisted by P. Ramgoolam (Financial Manager) and N. Dusoruth, (Human Resource Officer). Fees of Rs 86,000 were paid.

On January 22, it was the turn of a man named S.R.H. to face a disciplinary committee. The latter, who practices as Pipe Cleaner, is accused of having taken “excessive unauthorized leaves since 2010”.