Sea Lots residents stage silent protest

Sea Lots residents held a silent protest yesterday after two days of noisy demonstrations involving police clashes. Their silent protest came after 28-year-old mother Haydee Paul and her daughters—Ruthie, eight, and Shakira, seven—were killed while attempting to cross the Beetham Highway near Pioneer Drive, on Sunday morning. They were hit by a speeding car driven by an off-duty police officer.

Three other victims of the crash were identified as Amanda Lalla, 26, Abigail Assing and Ryan Dahl, also of Pioneer Drive. Lalla and Dahl remained warded at the Intensive Care Unit of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital in critical condition up to late yesterday. On Sunday and Monday, residents burned tyres and debris across the Beetham Highway causing police officers to block the highway.

Their protest action caused a traffic gridlock from as far as Arouca and Freeport. Yesterday, approximately 20 residents held placards which read: “We fed up with promises, by that time more might die, act now, make it safe and it is not about racism.” The racism referred to comments made on Facebook by WINTV reporter Darryl Heeralal concerning the protest. Heeralal was fired for his comments.

The residents also held a candlelight vigil. The driver of the car, up to late yesterday, remained hospitalised. Friends said funeral arrangements for the Paul family would be announced when relatives abroad arrive in the country.