Latest update March 21st, 2025 7:03 AM
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GWI boss to get hearing tomorrow
The investigation into allegations of mismanagement at the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has been completed and Chief Executive, Karan Singh, who was sent on leave to facilitate the process will be given the opportunity to defend himself tomorrow.
Karan Singh
Head of Procurement, Dhani Narine, who was also sent on leave, was slated to appear before the Board of Directors yesterday on a similar note.
According to reports reaching this newspaper, the Board of Directors was able to conclude a near two-week long investigation and is in the process of compiling a report that will be presented to Singh for his perusal and clarification.
At a hearing before the Board of Directors, Singh is expected to answer to allegations that fraudulent activities have been allowed to persist unabated within the entity.
During the course of the investigation, which was prompted by allegations made by contractors who were employed by GWI that Head of Procurement, Dhani Narine, was demanding ‘drawbacks’, it was discovered that some of the allegations were indeed factual following an internal audit.
There was reliable information that during interviews with Heads of Department, serious allegations, which pointed to fraudulent involvement, were levelled against both Singh and Narine. According to a source close to the entity’s operation, the evidence brought against Singh was very incriminating and highlighted calculated mismanagement.
In addition to the questionable manner in which some contracts were awarded, this newspaper understands that evidence suggests that there were purchases of fuel for the water entity, which interestingly enough, was transported to a businessperson instead.
Reports are that the interviewed Heads of Department were knowledgeable of some of the acts that fashioned the mismanagement allegations but at the time could not have reported such activities since they feared losing their jobs.
Dhani Narine
It has been revealed that while some of the Heads of Department are concerned about their futures, some key members of the Board have threatened to resign if Singh is reinstated to his Chief Executive position, given the degree of mismanagement uncovered.
Government has control over the corporate entity and it is tasked with appointing the Board of Directors, which answers to the Minister of Housing and Water, who in turn answers to Cabinet.
It was noted that although the Board of Directors can make recommendations, the ultimate decision as to who is reinstated and who is terminated, would be made by Cabinet.
And according to a source, there is no telling how Cabinet will react given the death of former President Janet Jagan who was said to be instrumental in having Singh returned to the water sector after being accused of mismanagement in the same sector in the past.
Singh had reflected on his involvement in the water sector back in the 1990s, saying that although allegations were brought against him he bowed out quietly and did not retaliate, knowing that he had done nothing wrong.
According to Singh, if he had really been involved in immoral activities, there was no way that the current administration would have allowed him to handle billions of dollars during Guyana’s hosting of the Cricket World Cup in 2007 when he operated in the capacity of CWC Chief Executive Officer.
“When I was placed at GWI it was an utter mess and I did all that I could to make that entity what it is today,” Singh related.
He was sent on leave last Monday soon after returning from his annual vacation. The Board of Directors in a statement said that it had moved to examine in greater detail, allegations brought to its attention about mismanagement in the water sector.
The statement added that Singh was informed of the situation and agreed that his absence from work would facilitate the speedy completion of the Board’s investigation.
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