The driver of a private sanitation truck, who claimed to have been threatened at gunpoint to dump garbage on the street of east Port-of-Spain during protests earlier this week, has been charged over the incident.
The 34-year-old from Diego Martin was yesterday charged for wilfully obstructing the free passage of a road and for littering. He is expected to appear in the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court this morning.
If convicted, the obstructing charge carries a fine of $200 and up to a month in prison, while the maximum penalty for littering is fine of $4,000 or up to six months in prison.
The dumping of garbage occurred at various locations along Observatory Street on Monday morning, as resident protested the police killing of Akel “Christmas” James. James was killed by police during a raid of his home earlier that morning.
Video clips of the truck offloading its cargo at the corner of Observatory and Quarry Streets were captured by residents and posted on social media. The heaps of garbage were then set on fire by residents before they were eventually cleared by the members of the T&T Defence Force and police.
In a report given to the Port-of-Spain City Corporation, the driver, whose company is contracted to the corporation, claimed he was threatened into carrying out the act by residents.
The driver was interviewed by detectives of the Port-of-Spain CID led by Supt Ajith Persad, who then charged him.