Still no justice for Sealots accident victims
Sea Lots residents are demanding an apology from the police officer who struck and killed a 28-year-old mother and her daughters at Pioneer Drive on February 24.The residents said they will continue protest action until justice is served.
A total of 45 days have gone by passed and the probe into the accident has not yet been completed. The accident claimed the lives of Haydee Paul and her daughters–Ruthie, eight, and Shakira, seven. They were struck as they were waiting to cross the Beetham Highway near Pioneer Drive. As yet no charge has been laid against the driver.
Amanda Lalla, 26, Abigail Assing and Ryan Rampersad, also of Pioneer Drive, were also injured in the accident. Lalla and Rampersad remain warded at hospital.The irate residents protested silently again on Sunday. They said they were angry after learning that a driver who had knocked down a child in central Trinidad on Saturday evening had been charged yet the probe into to the Sea Lots accident was not completed.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson said he spoke with the residents yesterday morning."I just spoke with them and it is being investigated. Because of the sensitivity of the issue we can't discuss it. You have to wait on reports and analysis from labs and can't send the file without those things. We should be there in good time," he said.Richardson said the report was also sent to the Police Complaints Authority over two weeks ago.
However, the Sea Lots residents complained over the length of time which has gone by.Spokesman for the community Kenroy Dopwell said: "How come that driver ( in central) was charged but the Sea Lots driver hasn't after six weeks? We are going to be taking action with respect to justice. In a mere couple of hours that driver was slapped with six charges and 44 days (yesterday) has passed now. Why no charges?"
Dopwell also criticised the driver involved in the Sea Lots tragedy for his lack of apology to the families."Not even a phone call from he or his family to say something even through the media to show they respect life.Dopwell said the residents were now getting redress with plans for a walkover but the protest would continue."We will walk to the hospital to see the distressed ones and give the family strength and support and say prayers and we walk back down," he said.
Dopwell said they have been in contact with Richardson and received drawings for the walkover from Concession Drive to Production Drive yesterday morning.Dopwell also thanked Minister of Housing, Land and Marine Affairs Roodal Moonilal, MP Marlene McDonald, chairman of the community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) Adesh Deonarine for the employment for 60 residents.
