The angry shouts of "No cell tower" ripped through Gasparillo yesterday, as Ramdass Trace residents came out to protest the erection of a Digicel cell tower. MP for Tabaquite, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, addressed the residents, saying he intended to write to Prime Minister Patrick Manning, asking him to intervene and stop construction of the tower. He also said he wanted confirmation from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to see if an environmental impact assessment was done.Maharaj said: "I intend to go to Parliament on Wednesday to raise the issue. I also have a team of lawyers standing by to stop the construction of the cell tower if Manning fails to intervene." He said the electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell towers, even at the lowest range, could be dangerous to human health, have adverse effects on children and be responsible for birth defects.
Maharaj said there were two schools in the area that housed 1,000 children and the area, home to more than 5,000 residents, would be victims of State-activated murder if nothing was done to stop the tower from being built. He told residents: "You are not alone; we are here to fight this struggle with you. The Government should not allow cell towers to be built without at least consulting the people." Ramdass Street resident and Health, Safety and Environment Worker, Dalchan Beharry, said he was deeply disturbed over construction of the cell tower. "I will personally make a call to the Occupational Safety and Health office and get an inspector down here before the end of the week. "If we have to block Ramdass Trace, so that no contractor can get through, we will."