The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE 

Tribune Chief Reporter 

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A JUDGE cautioned jurors in the criminal trial of Adrian Gibson and others to remain impartial yesterday after the lead defence attorney, Damian Gomez, KC, raised concerns over their quiet, seemingly unprovoked laughter as the lengthy trial continued.

Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson reminded jurors to remain “dispassionate” and “cold”, noting their thoughts should not be reflected in their expressions.

She said she was not suggesting that jurors’ thoughts were obvious but emphasised that even private jokes should not be apparent.

Her remarks followed murmurs from the jury during Mr Gomez’s cross-examination, with some jurors occasionally laughing and covering their mouths.

Mr Gomez told the judge he was unsure what the “comedy” was about and called on her to address the matter.

Cross-examination of Water and Sewerage Corporation general manager Robert Deal continued yesterday concerning WSC policies, a past audit, and previous communications between WSC officials.

Mr Deal confirmed that he had previously served as deputy general manager for several years. He acknowledged that he was generally copied on communications between the ministry and the general manager.

When Mr Gomez suggested that the corporation’s board of directors issued no Cabinet papers during Mr Gibson’s tenure, Mr Deal denied the claim, adding: “I think they were.”

When asked if he had checked the records to verify, Mr Deal said he had reviewed Cabinet conclusions he had testified about earlier but admitted he had not conducted an exhaustive review of all Cabinet papers from August 2017 to September 2021.

Mr Gomez also inquired if Mr Deal recalled reviewing multiple contract awards during that period, to which Mr Deal confirmed. He then asked whether many of these contracts were awarded after 2017, and Mr Deal acknowledged that they were.

Mr Gomez pointed out that when the government needed to borrow funds for specific purposes, a Cabinet paper and a corresponding Cabinet conclusion were required. Mr Deal agreed with this statement.

Mr Gomez then asked if contracts related to such borrowing were handled differently from those financed directly by the public treasury.

Mr Deal responded that they were not treated differently.

Mr Gibson, the MP for Long Island, has been on trial since November 2023 alongside former WSC general manager Elwood Donaldson, Jr, Joan Knowles, Peaches Farquharson, and Jerome Missick.

The charges stem from contracts awarded by the corporation while Mr Gibson served as WSC executive chairman.

About ten prosecution witnesses remain to testify in the case.

The defence team includes Mr Gomez, KC, Murrio Ducille, KC, Geoffrey Farquharson, Ian Cargill, Bryan Bastian, Ryan Eve, and Raphael Moxey.

Meanwhile, the Crown’s legal team comprises the Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier, Cashena Thompson, Karine MacVean, and Rashied Edgecombe.