Chaguanas East MP has called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to intervene after work on the Bridle Bridge in Cunupia was halted after workers were allegedly threatened at gunpoint on Sunday.
The MP said the incident was a clear example of extortion, which the UNC said has been taking place in numerous areas, including central Trinidad.
During a visit to the site yesterday, a resident, who wished not to be identified, said on Sunday a man allegedly came to the site armed with an AK-47.
“The man come up the river and stop the project, so I don’t know when they will open back. He come and tell them the project has to stop. The fellas get frightened and went and report it to the boss and since then the work stop because nobody come out since,” the resident said.
“I living here 20 years now and this project is very important to the residents and people, who depend on using the road on a daily basis,” he added.
Contacted yesterday, Chaguanas East MP Vandana Mohit said she wrote to the Prime Minister Rowley informing him of the “disturbing incident of alleged extortion and violence after being informed of the incident”.
The letter claimed gunmen “demanded that the truck drivers deposit earth fill intended for backfilling, at a site of their choosing.”
Mohit said she has since informed the Central Division’s Senior Supt Gavin Simon about the incident.
The MP suggested that the Prime Minister “utilise your good office to intercede and undertake some strategies in order to minimise and or eliminate such dastardly occurrences on State projects, especially this undertaking”.