San Fernando mayor Junia Regrello has called on the city’s Municipal Police to do regular patrols on Harris Promenade after a school child and a nurse were attacked by homeless people in separate incidents recently.
Speaking to Guardian Media after the San Fernando City Corporation’s monthly statutory meeting, Regrello said the incidents took place within weeks of each other.
“Two instances were reported to us one just before school closed where a child was molested by a homeless person opposite San Fernando Boys’ RC School,” Regrello said.
The second incident took place shortly after where a nurse employed at the San Fernando General Hospital was attacked and robbed while using the promenade to access the city’s High Street.
“A nurse coming from a late shift at the hospital and there was some trees opposite St Paul’s Church, the person was hiding behind the tree, he snatched her bag and held onto her hand. We have since removed those trees from there, not only because of that incident but because the roots were damaging the promenade.”
During the meeting, Regrello called on the city police to conduct regular patrols on the promenade.
He said the issue of well-intentioned people feeding the homeless of the promenade also still exists even though the corporation has a designated shelter on King’s Wharf for displaced people.
He said he wanted the public to be aware adding: “The homeless persons who congregate on the promenade are most times under the influence of alcohol and uncontrollable and they are molesting citizens, even young children.”
