Chinese workers quit Guanapo church site

Chinese workmen hired by Shanghai Construction group to build the church packed their belongings and left the job site.

In addition, Arima police are investigating the theft of a quantity of electrical cable from the controversial Guanapo church.

On Sunday a watchman at the church site went to the Arima police station and reported that a quantity of electrical cable which he had seen on the site two days previously, was missing.

The workman was unable to give an estimate of the cost of the cable, and was also unable to furnish the police with the name of the church owner.

Police went to the church site with the watchman and carried out a search for the cable. They also enquired from another person on the site about the identity of the person who may be the owner of the church, but officers were not furnished with that information. Police were told that on May 23, the day before the General Election, chinese workmen hired by Shanghai Construction group to build the church packed their belongings and left the job site.

Workmen never returned to the site. Investigators were also told that documents which would have given the police information on who was the owner of the church were also taken away by officials of Shanghai Construction group.

It is widely speculated that the church belongs to Juliana Pena the spiritual adviser of former prime minister Patrick Manning.

On February 19 then Opposition Chief Whip Jack Warner revealed photos and disclosed information in Parliament about the church being built and linked the church to then prime minister Patrick Manning.

However, on February 26 Manning disclosed to Parliament that he was in no way connected to the church and added that no state funding was used in the construction of the church.

The church is now the subject of an investigation being undertaken by the Anti Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB).