New man gets GM post

AFTER ACTING in the post for almost five years, Dr John Mwansa will not be appointed general manager of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA).

The person given the nod for general manager is said to be a Barbadian who has been working in Trinidad and Tobago. He is supposed to take up the post on February 1.

According to a report on Starcom Network news yesterday evening, the substantive manager of engineering at The Pine, St Michael organisation was among several senior managers who were overlooked when chairman Dr Atlee Brathwaite announced changes to the top positions at a staff meeting yesterday.

Mwansa has reportedly been offered another position at the corporation, which is yet to be disclosed.

It is also understood that the management team was informed about the changes at a separate meeting on Wednesday. Some of the changes will be effective January 15.

The positions of director of engineering and director of projects, which were among senior positions advertised, have been filled by people who were not in key senior roles previously. Two senior engineers have reportedly been bypassed for those roles.

The report also stated that the Barbados Workers’ Union, which up to mid-2016 was involved in a lengthy battle for workers to get payments due them over a period of years, was looking into the changes on behalf of some of its members. The union is expected to issue a statement on the matter in the coming days. (YB)