The Office of the Public Defender has encountered a setback to the start of hearings as part of its probe into the recent fire at the Riverton Dump.
Despite issuing summonses to the former Chairman and Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) more than a month ago to provide documents, they have not been submitted.
On Friday, Public Defender, Arlene Harrison-Henry, says the NSWMA's attorney requested a five-week extension. However, it was rejected.
“We want whatever she has in hand, now, and that has not been provided to us. Four to five weeks was an unreasonable request ….we expected that even a partial fulfillment of our request would have been made. That has not been done to date,” Harrison Henry said.
The NSWMA has been given until next week Monday to produce the documents when hearings with the agency will begin.
It's reported that former NSWMA boss Jennifer Edwards last week contacted the Public Defender indicating that she had instructed the agency's attorney to submit the documents requested.
NEPA
Despite the setback with the NSWMA, the decision has been made by the Office of the Public Defender to proceed with hearings with the National Environment Planning Agency (NEPA).
The Office of the Public Defender is using its powers under the Public Defender Act to summon members of the NSWMA to answer questions about the agency's handling of the Riverton Dump.
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