In the ongoing trial of Adrian Gibson, Diane Saunders-Adderley, the Assistant General Manager of the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC), took the witness stand for another day, shedding light on potential conflicts of interest and procedural irregularities.
Saunders-Adderley testified that the signature of Elwood Donaldson, the then-General Manager of WSC, appeared on purchase orders (POs) and was involved in the collection of checks for Adam’s Landscaping.
This company, listed among contractors receiving over $250,000, has been scrutinized for possible conflicts of interest. Saunders-Adderley explained that the involvement of Donaldson in the check collection created a perception of conflict, although she noted that no strict prohibition exists against staff collecting checks.
Typically, a letter of authorization is required, and the involvement of Donaldson in signing off on contracts added to the suspicion.
The witness further disclosed that Donaldson’s secretary also collected checks.
Saunders-Adderley testified that Adam’s Landscaping's tax compliance certificate had expired at the time of payment. Donaldson reportedly instructed that payments be processed, with assurances that the tax issues would be resolved post-payment.
Saunders-Adderley noted that despite the expired documentation, the second payment to Adam’s was authorized, contrasting with an email from the Accounts Manager advising against payments due to incomplete vendor documents.
Donaldson’s email directive to proceed with Adam’s payments, while withholding approval for other vendors, contributed to perceptions of bias, according to Saunders-Adderley.
Throughout her testimony, Peaches Farquharson, the owner of Adam’s Landscaping, was seen shaking her head as the witness detailed the discrepancies.
Gibson, alongside Elwood Donaldson Jr., Jerome Missick, Peaches Farquharson, and Joann Knowles, faces charges related to the award of lucrative WSC contracts while Gibson was executive chairman.
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