Cops guard NHA’s ‘top men’

Police officers from the Northern and Port-of-Spain Divisions have been detailed to provide ‘round the clock security for Chairman of the National Housing Authority Andre Monteil and NHA Director Noel Garcia. Garcia reported to the St Joseph police that he received a threatening phone call on Friday by a male caller, who told him that he and his family risked being kidnapped if the NHA continued with the move to guard the NHA projects. The matter was reported to senior officers of Northern Division who immediately put in place ‘round the clock police protection for Garcia and his family. A police officer has been posted at the home of Garcia while another officer has been assigned to accompany Garcia and his family when they leave their home.

Senior officers told Sunday Newsday that police officers will also provide the same arrangement for Andre Monteil, the Chairman of the National Housing Authority. The army has already been deployed in high risk areas where NHA projects are in progress.This was put in place to prevent criminal activity from resurfacing in the NHA’s new apartment refurbishment programme. The areas targetted are Morvant, Laventille and Beetham. Police sources said yesterday that a group of people believed to be linked to a religious sect the are responsible for threatening and even resorting to murder in a bid to gain control of certain NHA projects.