THE FAMILY and friends of hydrogeologist Earl Wright are still at a loss as to why someone would want to murder him.
Mr. Wright, aged 41, a part-time lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), was found in his vehicle on Thursday, November 14 in Newport West, with his throat cut and a bullet wound to his side.
He was described by his former colleagues at the Water Resources Authority (WRA) as very helpful and a mentor to the young staff at the WRA and the students at the UWI whom he lectured.
"He was a very sociable, kind person... he couldn't say no to anyone. He touched a lot of lives in a very positive way," one of his former colleagues at WRA said.
Mr. Wright had more than 17 years experience in hydrogeology and water resources management.
He has done several publications covering the management of the country's water resources and solid waste, including one in 1998 on the Riverton City Dump, which evaluated the landfill site as a component of solid waste management.
Another publication, in 1996, examined approaches to solving Jamaica's water problems and a third, in 1994, looked at the vulnerability of Jamaica's groundwater resources to contamination.
Mr. Wright has worked on more than 50 environmental impact assessment studies covering a range of projects, from the flood levels in Jamaica to damage assessment surveys and salinity of the Ferry springs and the potential for their utilisation. He has represented Jamaica at regional and international seminars, conferences and workshops on water resources issues.
He held a M.Sc. in Hydrogeo-logy from the University of London; B.Sc. in Geology from the UWI and several certificates in water resources management, coastal zone impact assessment and management; and design and management of landfill and other areas of environmental impact. These certificates were obtained following training courses in Jerusalem, Colombia, Australia and in the region.
The talented Jamaican was president of the Geological Society of Jamaica from 1994 to 1997. He was technical adviser to the Water Resources Authority's Board from 1994 to 1996. Up to the time of his death he was a director of GEO TECHNICS, a locally registered consultancy company, specialising in hydrological and geotechnical engineering.
A memorial service for Mr. Wright will be held at the Mona Chapel of the UWI tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
