Ten days after the Bamboo #2 Community Council wrote to the Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation (TPRC) about the erection of a security booth in the area, the corporation moved in early yesterday morning and demolished the structure.
The move, however, was condemned as “dictatorship” by businessman and community activist Inshan Ishmael, one of the residents involved in the construction of the booth
“If there was any doubt that Trinidad and Tobago is on the road to dictatorship, that doubt should be removed now because we are led by a megalomaniac,” he said.
“The residents will decide where we go from here. I will not make decisions on my own. It has to be a joint decision and the residents will decide how we go forward.”
Two backhoes escorted by a large contingent of police officers moved into the area around 5 am and TPRC workers demolished the booth.
In a December 5 letter to TPRC chairman Josiah Austin, Bamboo #2 Community Council president Jeremy Naipaul said it was a bona fide non-profit organisation that follows and obeys the laws of T&T.
The group indicated, however, that “through communication, we reserve the right to make an application in future for a guard booth and barrier system that is designed, constructed, and managed by the Bamboo #2 Community Council with the necessary approvals by the statutory bodies.”
Naipaul said the letter was written to maintain clear communications with the TPRC.
Ishmael said yesterday that he had contacted his attorney about taking further action in the matter. He had previously stated that the residents would keep rebuilding the booth if it is destroyed by the authorities, because they are frustrated about a spate of robberies and extortion attempts in their community.
Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said last month that he would consult with the TPRC on the booth.
Austin had said previously that the TPRC understood residents’ concerns about crime and was willing to help them find workable solutions. He also urged the residents to work within the law to find solutions.