APUA Investigation Report To Be Considered At Special Cabinet Meeting
December 22, 2005
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua
The Report by retired judge Mr. Don Mitchell CBE, QC, consequent upon his investigation of the Antigua Public Utilities Authority as mandated by Cabinet was received by the Hon. Prime Minister and the Hon Attorney General on Wednesday December 14 2005.
Mr. Mitchell had been appointed by Cabinet on November 21 as sole investigator following growing public controversy over the governance of the Antigua Public Utility Authority APUA) by its Commissioners whose appointments had earlier been terminated.
The investigation was conducted over a period of two weeks commencing Monday November 28 2005 during which period a number of persons including the Commissioners and Management staff were questioned by Mr. Mitchell on issues emanating from the Terms of Reference which were limited to governance and management issues commencing from the appointment of the Commissioners by the UPP Administration.
The 36 page Report was circulated to Cabinet Ministers on Tuesday December 20 2005 at their regular Cabinet Meeting and will be discussed at a special Cabinet Meeting scheduled for Wednesday December 28 2005.
The Report makes several recommendations some of which address the general issue of governance by statutory corporations within the context of responsibility and transparency as advocated by the UPP Sunshine Government. The Report will be released to the public for objective discussion and constructive input following its consideration by Cabinet; this will ensure full participation of civil society in charting the way forward in respect of the operational and management modalities of APUA and other statutory corporations in fulfilling their public interest functions and objectives.
Prime Minister the Hon. Baldwin Spencer and Attorney General the Hon. Justin Simon QC, on behalf of the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda, have expressed sincere thanks to Mr. Don Mitchell for graciously accepting the assignment and diligently conducting the investigation as to allow for the Report before year end.
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