JOEL JULIEN
The abandoned site of the multi-million dollar church that was being built for former prime minister Patrick Manning's one-time spiritual adviser Juliana Pena has now become a "sex den" of sorts, residents at the Heights of Guanapo, Arima, have claimed.
In addition to sexual trysts taking place regularly at the abandoned site at night, a stolen vehicle was also discovered deserted there recently.
The site has also become a liming spot for drug users in the area as the overgrown bushes and the abandoned church structure have proven an excellent cover for illegal activity, residents claim.
On Thursday, the Sunday Guardian visited the quiet village at the foothills of the Northern Range, located on the outskirts of the bustling town of Arima, to talk to residents about the controversial church that was supposed to have been built in their area.
On December 30, 2005, Pena laid the cornerstone for the construction of The Lighthouse of Our Lord Jesus Christ church.
That cornerstone is now almost invisible.
Covered with moss and hidden by bush, the cornerstone is located at what would have been the western corner of the church.
The private house where Pena used to conduct church services is still located across the dirt track road.
Pena was the senior pastor of the Jesus The Light of This World Ministry.
While the house is still there, the Jesus The Light of This World Ministry church has since relocated to Calvary Hill in Arima.
Terry Blanc, 37, was at the Guanapo house when the Sunday Guardian visited.
Blanc lamented the fact that the controversial multi-million dollar church was not built in the area.
"If everything went according to plan the church would have been completed by now and it would have had a huge impact in the area. It would not only have done good for this community but would have eventually helped development for the entire district, Arima, Valencia and environs, everyone would have benefited," Blanc said.
Blanc said it was "unfair" the way things happened in relation to the church.
"It was real bad what they did. All the false things that were said. Like they didn't care what they were doing to God. The church was something that was going to be for God's work. People just didn't understand the vision. It was unfair the way things happened," he said.
Blanc said he feels pain when he looks outside and sees what has become of the structure.
On January 21, 2010, construction of the controversial church began.
There was tremendous controversy surrounding the church after it was discovered that the Shanghai Construction Group, the same Chinese company contracted to build the Prime Minister's residence at La Fantaisie and the Diplomatic Centre, was responsible for its construction.
The church's construction on state lands was used as a campaign weapon by Manning's political opponents during the build-up to the May 2010 general election.
Days before the May 24, 2010, general election, work on the church was halted.
In June 2010, after security guards who were protecting the compound left after reportedly not being paid their salaries, scores of looters stormed the construction site.
Thousands of dollars worth in equipment and material were carted away from the site.
Tonnes of scaffolding material, PVC pipes, ply board, sand, gravel and cement were among the items removed from the church compound.
The fence surrounding the church was also taken.
All that remains now are the mossy concrete structure, including pillars that were already constructed before work was stopped, and a cargo container.
The area is overgrown with bush.
"If they could have gone with the concrete they would have gone with that too. Youth nowadays will do anything to make money. It was something for them and they took pleasure in destroying it," Blanc said.
Another resident who requested anonymity described the abandoned church as a "white elephant."
Two Christmases ago, the abandoned structure was used as a site to distribute toys to children in the community.
These days, however, the site has attracted illegal activity instead.
"There was a stolen car there the other day. People are smoking drugs and in the evening time it is like a sex den. It has come now just like a hideaway," the resident said.
"If they want to build anything there they should build a police post," the resident said.
Another resident, Stacy Blanc, also called for work to be done on the structure.
"I find they should come back and do something at the site. They should fix it up, build like a community centre or something. The youth need something in the area," she said.
Stacy lamented Manning's passing.
"It was real sad to hear that he died. He was a good man, I don't care what people said, he did plenty and people just didn't understand and didn't give him a chance. They said all kind of things and in the end, they found nothing," she said.
At the corner of the road entering the Heights of Guanapo there was a group of young men waiting to scavenge the garbage trucks entering the area.
There is a landfill in the area.
"The youths need something positive. Right now all they are focused on is scavenging the garbage trucks. If the church was built it would have breathed new life into the area. We needed it," she said.
The residents questioned if the church were allowed to be completed whether Manning, whose final rites were observed yesteray, would have been laid to rest there.
ON May 15, 2010, then opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar wrote to Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard about Manning's involvement in the construction of the church.
Persad-Bissessar's concerns revolved around primarily four issues:
i) whether Manning corruptly or unlawfully interfered in the granting of state lands and other related approvals to the church or for its construction;
(ii) whether state funds were used for/or in the construction of the church;
(iii) whether Calder Hart (then chairman and executive director of the Urban Development Corporation of T&T) corruptly procured the Shanghai Construction Group and others to design and construct the church; and
(iv) whether the building constructed at the Heights of Guanapo was initially designed as the Outdoor Stage Project of the Prime Minister's house as part of the Prime Minister's residence and relatedly, whether the cost of the church was factored into the cost of the Prime Minister's residence.
Eventually, almost three years later, on March 2013, Gaspard issued a statement clearing Manning and Pena of any "criminal misconduct" in the church's construction. Neither Manning nor Pena were interviewed by police during their investigations "since the police appear not to have any evidence which would afford reasonable grounds for suspecting that they may have committed any offence arising out of this matter," Gaspard said.
The police investigations show that Manning had an interest in the construction of the church on state lands and had even visited the site and made suggestions for the design of the building.
Manning also chaired Cabinet meetings which approved the granting of state lands for the project.
In relation to the role played by Hart, the evidence stated that it was he who introduced Pena to the architect who agreed to design the church as a charitable act.