Cops aware of Beverly Hills thugs

Government and the police know who are the persons behind the recent acts of thuggery and violence at the Beverly Hills housing project.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing, Joseph said the police “was aware” of who was behind these acts and they are monitoring the situation. But he stressed that the need for a permanent police presence must be a last resort. National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee said that the matter was under investigation and as soon as the information was available, the public would be told who the perpetuators are. Prime Minister Patrick Manning stressed that there was a different between evidence and information and therefore an arrest could not be made on the basis of only information. Sources yesterday fingered the relative of a former leader who was now working in concert with another prominent leader to thwart work on the housing project. Joseph stressed that Government did not want to put up a virtual “fortress” in order to protect the Beverly Hills project.

But Manning, responding to queries, pointed out that the joint police/army task force in Laventille was now up to full strength of 400 and the patrols were taking into consideration the situation at Beverly Hills as they went about their duties.  He added that a police base had been established close to the Lady of Fatima. Furthermore the police station at St Barb’s would be manned on a 24 hour basis, he said. “If it turns out — and I had optimistic that it won’t — that a different level of security is required, then we would just put that in place,” Manning said. Chin Lee also assured that both the police and defence force were playing special attention to that problem. Joseph said NHA had  involved the community in the project from the inception, doing an inventory of the people, their skills so that they could have been involved in all stages of the project. Their interest and involvement were vital in ensuring that the project was properly protected, Joseph stated. The Housing Minister said that the first indication that there was going to be a challenges was when three persons threatened the contractor, then came the firebombing, and then the spraying of bullets at the home of a resident who spoke out against the firebombing.