Shaik Baksh sent on leave, Collin Croal resigns

May 31, 2015 News

GWI’s head, Shaik Baksh

At least two officials including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), Shaik Baksh, have been sent on leave in recent days by the new administration.
According to GWI sources yesterday, Baksh who was appointed as CEO in October 2012, was asked to proceed on leave effective tomorrow, June 1 by the Chairman, Ramesh Dookoo.
Baksh’s leave is for 72 days but his contract is due to expire before it is up.
Kaieteur News was told that the life of the GWI Board is expected to expire at the end of June at which time the David Granger government is widely expected to appoint new officials.
Baksh served as Minister of Housing and then as Minister of the Education before the 2011 General and Regional Elections under former President Bharrat Jagdeo.
He was recently in the news after his son reportedly crashed a GWI pickup, wrecking it and seriously injuring himself on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.
Under regulations, his son was not supposed to be driving the vehicle. Baksh was reportedly out of the country at the time.
Also sitting on the GWI Board, according to the entity’s website are Dharamkumar Seeraj – Vice Chairman and members Seepaul Narine, Denise King-Tudor, Tarachand Balgobin, Donald Dyal and Emile Mc Garrell – the current Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Water.

Resigned: Permanent Secretary, Collin Croal

Also sent on leave last week was Collin Croal, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communities (previously Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development).
Croal reportedly received a letter asking him to proceed on leave but was later asked to tender his resignation.
Croal, the brother of former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud, was a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the recent elections.
He had tendered his resignation to campaign but reportedly attempted to pull it back after his party lost.
President David Granger, in a recent meeting with public servants, said public servants who resigned to campaign should stay resigned.
Reportedly, Nigel Dharamlall, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, who was also a candidate for the PPP/C, has also been sent on leave. He had openly campaigned in the hinterlands.
However, Kaieteur News could not verify that he was sent off.
Contacted, Dharamlall declined comment and referred questions to the Minister, Sydney Allicock.
Both GWI and Croal’s Ministry have been under scrutiny for a number of projects and contracts, which are said to be under review.