Work continues on the controversial church on the Heights of Guanapo, but at a slower pace than before, by a team of Chinese construction workers. Yesterday, the Guardian visited the construction site of the Lighthouse of the Lord Jesus Christ church. The church became the centre of controversy when its existence was revealed by United National Congress chairman Jack Warner on February 24, 2010, in the House of Representatives.
It was revealed the church had been granted State lands in 2006 and was affiliated to Rev Julianna Pena, who was later said to be Prime Minister Patrick Manning's "spiritual adviser." It was also reported that construction was being done by Shanghai Construction Group, which had strong ties with the Urban Development Company of T&T, for a cost of $30 million. At first glance yesterday, the site appeared dormant. It was only after investigating the outer perimeter of site, the Guardian discovered a small team of Chinese men quietly working on the interior of the building.
The workers' residence was spotted on the south-east corner of the site, and included three containers and four cooking gas cylinders.
A security guard screamed at the Guardian: "Get out the driveway...I doh have no time to entertain no tabloid journalism." Another guard on the opposite side of the site told the Guardian there was a small team of Chinese workers on the site, but he did not have the privilege to discuss whether they were working or not. A nearby resident said despite the Udecott issue, work on the church had continued, but on a much smaller scale.
She said after the large machinery and construction crews were removed from the site, a small crew of about six to ten Chinese workers remained. The resident said men were working on the interior of the church and maintaining certain areas of the exterior. She said they worked between 6 am and 10 am, and then from 6 pm to midnight. The resident said the Chinese workers maintained a very low profile in the community.
