Security guards attached to the highway construction project are scared after masked saboteurs set fire to a multi-million-dollar crane at the OAS highway job site in Point Fortin, as a warning to the Government. The cutlass-wielding assailants have ordered the National Infrastructure Company Ltd (Nidco) to “pay farmers now or face the consequences.” The attack occurred around 11 am while the lone security guard Chris Bowen was on duty about a quarter-mile from the Dunlop Roundabout in Point Fortin.
Police said three masked men in dark clothing went to the unlit area, where lands are being cleared to build the Solomon Hochoy highway extension, and grabbed Bowen, saying, “This is a warning to the Government to pay all farmers now.”
Telling Bowen, “We not on you,” the man pointed their cutlasses at him and ordered him to leave. Bowen ran up a hill and later saw fire coming from the cabin of the crane. Police said the men threw a molotov cocktail inside the crane and then ran off. Bowen called the Point Fortin police, who alerted firefighters. Firefighters later found remnants of kerosene inside the charred remnants of the crane cabin.
At the site yesterday, several security guards called for more police patrols, proper lighting towers and additional manpower. Security guard Dannie Bisnath said he saw the fire around midnight and alerted Hayden Nelson, who works with API Pipeline Construction Company Limited nearby. Nelson said since the sabotage he is scared for his life.
“This job is high risk because we do not have any lights here. We also need police to do patrols in here because we are not safe,” Nelson said. He said it was not the first time workers had been threatened. “A few months ago, some protesters came and threatened the supervisor. When I heard the crane was burning down I realised that things were getting worst,” Nelson said.
Andy Wallace, who was on duty at the construction site, said female guards were urged to walk to work with knives in their bags. “I told them that it is not safe. They should have police officers from the Tactical Unit stationed here,” Wallace said. “The place so dark at nights that you cannot see your hand in front your face.” He said guards had no protection and were left under a tent to brave the elements.
Another guard who requested anonymity, said the saboteurs were “thugs who just wanted free money.” “The Government giving out a lot of money to people who claiming they have produce on the lands and this is not true. People collect money two and three times and now they think by threatening guards and burning down machinery they will get their way,” the guard said.
Nidco responds
Contacted yesterday, Nidco chairman Dr Carson Charles denied that people were paid several times. He also said it was thugs, not farmers, who were responsible for the sabotage. “Farmers don’t behave this way. These people are thugs and they are trying to shake down money from Nidco for the Christmas season,” Charles contended. He urged OAS to secure its own equipment and improve security at all highway job sites.
Saying $4 million has already been paid out to farmers, Charles promised to continue to compensate only those with legitimate claims. He said unscrupulous people were trying to make false claims, but noted that only those who can provide evidence of damage will be compensated.