THE WATER and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has withdrawn its appeal of a judge’s ruling which found “credible evidence of misconduct” and an apparent attempt to pervert the course of justice in the authority’s handling of an internal investigation triggered by a former minister.
On May 20, WASA’s attorneys notified the court of a notice of discontinuance filed the day before, “wholly” withdrawing its appeal.
In November 2024, Justice Nadia Kangaloo ordered the release of information to WASA’s internal investigator, Lancelot Lezama, who claimed there was a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in the probe involving an allegation made by former Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales against WASA employee, Cecil Matthews.
Matthews had been accused of allowing a non-WASA employee to drive a WASA vehicle. It was alleged that Gonzales was an “eyewitness” to his breach.
On February 9, 2021, Lezama was appointed the investigator to look into the allegation against Matthew.
He claimed he was instructed by a manager at the authority to tell Matthews that a “high official” outside WASA had witnessed the alleged breach and that Matthews would receive leniency if he co-operated. He was also reportedly advised not to pursue a witness statement from the minister.
According to Lezama, he refused to compromise his integrity by concluding wrongdoing without proper evidence. Lezama described the disciplinary proceedings as “vexatious, frivolous and without substance,” claiming they were pursued to appease Minister Gonzales. After submitting his report, he said he was asked by another senior manager to remove the conclusion and recommendation sections.
In his lawsuit, Lezama said he was summoned by then-CEO Dr Lennox Sealy, who questioned him about the report and expressed concern over his use of the phrase “absolved of any wrongdoing or liability.”
Lezama said he insisted this wording was consistent with his past investigative reports and reiterated that there was no evidence supporting the allegation.
The next day, Lezama wrote to Sealy requesting an audit report mentioned during their meeting, suspecting he was being pressured to “falsify” his findings to support the minister’s version of events.
He said the report was never provided.
The disciplinary proceedings against Matthews were ultimately dropped by letter dated June 9, 2021, and Matthews received compensation for lost earnings after agreeing to withdraw legal action.
In his freedom of information application, Lezama requested documents including the minutes of his meeting with Sealy, Sealy’s employment contract and remuneration details, and any records of disciplinary action taken against the senior managers.
Kangaloo ruled that the documents must be disclosed, subject to redactions of personal information, stating there was a “prima facie case for further scrutiny.”
She said, “Transparency in how public funds are managed is fundamental, particularly in cases involving alleged manipulation or misconduct by officials.”
She held that WAS
