BREAK-INS AT STORE BAY

Owners of Store Bay’s popular local food outlets suffered serious losses on Monday night when five out of the six premises were broken into, items taken and the kitchens vandalised. In what would appear to be a criminal rampage, a gift shop was also broken into and vandalised. Police officers from the Crown Point Police station were on the scene early Tuesday morning and forensic investigations were being carried out. A source revealed that this was the fifth time for the year that the offices had been broken into and that despite meetings with the tourism secretary, administrator and other officials, security at Store Bay remained inadequate.

Tourism Secretary, Neil Wilson, stated that immediate steps had been taken to secure the area more efficiently and as of Tuesday night, a private security firm was posting guards to protect both the businesses operating at Store Bay as well as the THA’s administrative offices. He indicated however that this was only a short-term measure as a motion to establish its own security service would be tabled in the next THA plenary session.

Leader of Executive Council Business, Hilton Sandy, first made the disclosure at last Thursday’s post Executive Council media briefing in response to queries over several recent break-ins at THA offices. The police are still investigating the thefts of computers and other office equipment which were stolen from the Education and Social Services Divisions within a one-week period. Sandy reported that he had already held talks with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Tobago), about getting assistance in the formation of the “THA Police Service.”