Bandits steal telephone lines in Carapo

The residents of Carapo Village in Arima have been without telephone service for the past four days following reports that the lines were cut during the night by bandits.  The village, which is located off the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, is the home for the Santa Rosa Racing Park as well as the Malabar Farms of Arima. These two major businesses have been affected by the telephone problem.

Carapo villagers complain that this has been happening regularly in the area. According to Doodnath Jawahir, manager of the Carapo Wholesale Stores, during the month of February villagers were out of telephone service for more than five days. “Any given day you can wake up to no telephone service in this area. And what is even more difficult is the fact the cell phones do not have service in many locations in this area,” he complained.

He said businesses are affected, since orders for the delivery of goods are not made on time. Other businesses affected are, Carapo Wholesale Stores, Yee Ken Hardware among other groceries and fast-food outlets in the area. The Carapo RC School and the Carapo Hindu Sabha (CHS) are also affected by no telephone service. Presently, the CHS is conducting a “five night” yagna (prayer meeting) at the Sabha ground, Carapo Main Road. The yagna, which is due to end tonight, is being conducted by Pundit Satyanand Maharaj of the Maha Sabha. It attracts huge crowds on a nightly basis. Jawahir said that despite the many complaints made to TSTT, the lines have not been restored up to yesterday evening.
He is also calling on the Minister of National Security to send night patrols to the Carapo area to stem the invasion of bandits in the area.