Protest in the City of Trinidad

Sea Lots protest 3 road deaths again

Police officers form a line to cordon off protesting Sea Lots residents as they clear a passageway along the Beetham Highway to allow traffic to flow yesterday morning. Traffic backed up for miles and caused headaches to many commuters and drivers as the residents burned tyres and debris to block the highway in protest over the deaths of Haydee Paul and her daughters, Ruthie and Shakira. Photo: Marcus Gonsalves

Reporting by Geisha Kowlessar, Derek Achong and Camille Clarke

Pandemonium broke out again yesterday morning at Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain as residents continued protest action demanding justice for the deaths of 28-year-old Haydee Paul and her daughters—Ruthie, eight, and Shakira, seven—who were knocked down and killed on the Beetham Highway near Pioneer Drive on Sunday. 

 The three other victims of the crash — Amanda Lalla, 26, Abigail Assing and Ryan Dahl — also of Pioneer Drive, remained warded at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital at the Intensive Care Unit up to late yesterday.

 The residents are claiming the off-duty policeman who knocked down Paul and her two daughters was drunk at the time of the accident. Senior officers said yesterday a breathalyser test was administered to the officer and blood samples taken from him after the accident. The policeman is attached to the Transport and Telecom Branch. Investigating officers said he would be questioned when discharged from hospital. 

 They said his car would remain impounded at the police station to be examined by a team of licensing officers. During their protest action on Sunday and yesterday, Sea Lots residents claimed the officer was intoxicated and that a bottle of alcohol was removed from his vehicle by police officers who first responded to the scene.

 Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson confirmed yesterday that the driver of the car is a police officer. From about 5 am yesterday angry residents took to the Beetham Highway near Pioneer Drive and again blocked the roadway with burning debris. 

 The police were forced to divert traffic to Broadway, Abattoir Road and South Quay, Port-of-Spain. It caused a massive traffic gridlock in parts of east and west Trinidad. Members of the Defence Force Infantry Battalion in riot gear, Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter Agency Task Force, firefighters, a national security helicopter were called out to contain the rowdy crowd. 

 Richardson said: “The residents were throwing debris on the road and we responded and we cleared the road. The minister (Jack Warner) came at 1.15 pm and spoke with the residents and they came to a consensus and we will talk again,” he said. He added the residents agreed to hold up on further protest action.

 Residents insisted yesterday the victims were not crossing the highway but were hit while on the pavement. In an interview at the hospital yesterday, Assing said she was trying to cross when she was hit by the car. Her neck was in a brace and her right arm was bandaged. 

 “I nearly made it to the sidewalk when I got hit,” she said. “All I know is when I regained consciousness I turned around and saw the others in the middle of the road and I was in the middle of the centre lane. I am in a lot of pain.” 

 Assing said she managed to lift herself up on the sidewall, but the driver of the car did not even try to help. Miguel Hepburn, who said he had been in a relationship with Paul for the past two years, said he was shocked over the deaths.

 “We does be drinking but we don’t drive no car. They (police) pull people over for a breathalyzer  And is six people he bounce down.” 

 Richardson commends cops:
In an interview last night Richardson said he was pleased with the police response to Sea Lots on Sunday and yesterday. He said: “They (officers) were very professional in handling the matter this morning and Sunday. We had dialogue with them to get them to understand our position. 

 “I expressed our (the police) grief and sorrow to them but at the same breath we told them the police have a duty to the nation to keep the highways and roads free.  “We (police) spoke to the residents and we got it cleared. The police did a good job and I am proud of the officers for how they handled the situation in a professional manner.” 

 What Warner told residents: “I have spoken to Minister of Works Emanuel George and he has assured me that his technical officers shall look into the possibility for a crossover that you all have asked for.  “I am here to offer condolence. Nothing we can do today can bring back the lives of those lost. I am sharing in your grief as everyone else.” Warner also promised the residents to return to the area to hold further discussion in regard to the construction of the walkover.

            On Monday morning we left home and headed for work in the city. Along the way, we heard on the radio that Sealots residents had blocked one of the entry way into the city."They were Protesting!"
          An accident which had taken place on Sunday, where six (6) persons were hit on the pavement after they had left the market. A vehicle whose driver was a police officer killed three (3) on the spot a mother and her two daughter ages 7 and 8 years and three others who were taken to hospital. The incident brought the residents of the area nearby as there were those who were able to witness the accident.
           Residents were angered at the manner in which the police attempted to cover up what had happened. The policeman who hit the persons was the first one to be moved from the scene and when persons tried to assist the other injured, they were prevented from doing so by the police.Persons on the scene said that the driver of the vehicle was intoxicated as a bottle of alcohol was seen in the vehicle by some of the residents.
          There was traffic everywhere, on the highway, Priority Bus Route as it was opened to the public from Curepe junction as a result of the protest, the Eastern Main Road and all roads connecting. We were on the P.B.R. and by the time we reached Tunapuna traffic came to a stand still, it took us 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach form Tunapuna to Curepe junction. Persons who were waiting on public transport were seen filling the streets, but most of the maxis' were making short trips, many people decided to return home and buses were filled to capacity. All this time the police service were making efforts to remove the debris placed in the road and to quell the angered residents.
         The protest inconvenienced all the persons making their way into the city. Many persons had varying views on the matter, there were those who were able to understand, there were those who were angered at not making it to work on time, there were those who said that the residents were using the incident as a way to protest and then there were those who said that the residents were costing businesses money.
          It was amazing to see the reaction of persons to what had happened, the big picture "that lives were lost," was not the main concerns of citizens. this incident clearly highlighted the self nature of individuals in society as each person was more engrossed in their own frustrations and anger that was bottled up inside concerning government's management of the country.
         The location of the protest allowed for the entire country to become aware of the incident that had occurred and it became the main topic of discussion in the media for the week and it highlighted the inefficiency of the government as the residents of Sealots for many years have been trying to get the government to build a walk over for persons, instead of them risking their lives daily when they have to cross the highway in order to enter the city. Sealots is an example of one of the areas that is neglected by government. It also sends a message to the public that the government only attends to issues in communities when tragic incidents occur or when persons protest.
         This present government time and time again since they have been in office have shown the citizens that they are not concerned with ensuring that the basic needs of citizens are met. Instead large sums of money are being spent and there is no visible evidence that it is being used to cater to the needs of citizens.
The Protest at Sealots this week has clearly indicated that the government is mainly focused on catering to the needs of the elite and the needs of the lower class and working class are being neglected. The government fails to understand that the persons in society that are responsible for the continued growth of the country is not the elite but the middle and lower class citizens.