NWC President Mark Barnett
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NIA Exective Director Danielle Archer and Professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy, Dr. Carol Archer
By Prince Moore
Watchdog group National Integrity Action (NIA) is calling for President of the National Water Commission, Mark Barnett to step aside.
The call follows the Integrity Commission report which revealed that Mr. Barnett and his wife breached building, planning and environmental permits for their development located at 11 Charlemont Drive, Kingston 6.
The Integrity Commission has called into question Mr. Barnett's moral authority to lead the National Water Commission, following the scathing report.
The report also revealed that Mr. Barnett is disputing a bill of approximately $900,000 that he allegedly owes for sewage and water supply to his upscale apartment complex in St. Andrew.
NIA Executive Director Danielle Archer said the issues are sending the wrong signal to the public.
"If as the leader of the entity you have disregarded a directive, you have decided that you're not going to follow the law, how can you sit and expect that other people, law abiding persons, would also follow the law when you tell them that they should pay their water bill?" she questioned Thursday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines.
"You can't tell somebody to comply with the laws you, yourself not complying. What's your moral authority?" said Ms. Archer.
Independent oversight needed
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Dr. Carol Archer, Professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy, has called for an independent body to oversee planning and environmental management in Jamaica.
She said the Integrity Commission's report which cited Mr. Barnett for breaches of building permits, highlights the failure in oversight and monitoring at the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation and the National Environment and Planning Agency.
"We cannot continue in terms of making decisions that would have adverse effect for the public and the environment, such as what is being brought to bear with this particular case," she contended.
Dr. Archer was also a guest on Beyond the Headlines.
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