By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A SENIOR Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC) official testified yesterday that she remained neutral while conducting an internal audit tied to alleged corruption at the WSC, refuting claims from the defence that she had shown bias.

Dian Saunders-Adderley, WSC’s assistant general manager, made the assertion during cross-examination by defence attorney Damian Gomez KC.

Mr Gomez alleged that Mrs Adderley lacked neutrality when she composed her audit notes, a claim she firmly denied. She also rejected suggestions that she violated the ICC charter.

Mrs Adderley said she did not conduct the audit independently, emphasising that she had received departmental authorisation.

Mr Gomez further claimed that Anthony Bostwick had been investigated by the ICC and that the investigation was later dropped. In response, Mrs Adderley said she was unaware of any such hearing but confirmed that Bostwick had been identified by a whistleblower.

She noted that the ICC may interview people not employed by the WSC and added that the commission does not have the authority to compel contractors to cooperate with investigations.

When questioned by Mr Gomez, Mrs Saunders-Adderley reiterated that she investigated Oak Bay Limited, Elite Maintenance, and Adam’s Landscaping, three companies that were awarded landscaping contracts by WSC. However, she clarified that she did not interrogate the vendors or make any formal accusations.

Adrian Gibson, former executive chairman of the WSC, has been on trial since November 2023 alongside Donaldson Jr, former General Manager, as well as Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson, and Jerome Missick. The charges pertain to contracts awarded during Gibson’s tenure.

The defence team includes Mr Gomez, Murrio Ducille KC, Geoffrey Farquharson, Raphael Moxey, Ian Cargill, Ryan Eve, and Bryan Bastian. Representing the Crown are Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean, and Rashied Edgecombe.