FCC Report: CWA Slammed Over ‘Systemic Failure’ and Corruption Risk

The Central Water Authority (CWA) is facing severe scrutiny after an “overwhelming” report by the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) exposed “major structural failures” in its project management, creating a high risk of corruption.

The damning FCC investigation is highlighting a significant lack of transparency, insufficient internal controls, and potential conflicts of interest that are undermining the public body’s governance.

The FCC asserted that these are not isolated incidents but represent systemic failures that have eroded public confidence.

Key Failings and Weaknesses

The report details several serious failings, including:

• Absence of formal management framework: A lack of proper formal management and professional supervision in project oversight.
• Favouritism in Tendering: Evidence of favouritism in the awarding of tenders, among other issues.
• Lack of Contractor Vetting: A “flagrant deficit” of transparency in evaluating contractors, with “no proof” that verification measures are properly conducted.
• Lax Quality Control: Technical Officers’ readings are not systematically validated by responsible engineers, which weakens the integrity of the control process.

Path to Reform

To address the deep-seated issues and reduce the risk of financial crimes, the Commission has put forward 18 recommendations. The CWA is legally obliged to implement these measures to restore institutional integrity and public trust.

Key recommendations include:

• The implementation of regular independent audits.
• The creation of a technical validation committee for tenders.
• A global strengthening of supervision mechanisms.

The FCC confirmed it will carry out follow-up and evaluation exercises to ensure these reforms are effectively applied.

Source: Le Mauricien

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