John John residents say no to ‘vagrants centre’

JOHN JOHN residents were tricked and fooled by the Government who promised “to get us to heaven, but now have us in real hell.” This was the sentiment expressed recently by Ruthven Charles, a Laventille activist who voiced the feeling of his fellow-Laventillians in connection with the proposed “vagrant centre” for the district. Charles is acting chairman of the recently-formed John John and Environs Improvement Organisation (JJEIO). He was the key speaker at a meeting organised by JJEIO to protest the Government’s plans to establish a vagrant centre at the old Nestle building site, Eastern Main Road, Laventille. The meeting was held at the Tokyo panyard.

Charles told the small but appreciative audience that the promise was to construct a six-storey building on the Nestle site, providing such facilities as a health centre, a post office, a nursery school, a community centre, and a fire station. “We set our eyes on a a bright future, but out of the blue and with no warning, we are told that the building to be placed there is for vagrants.” “They only trying to dress up the name by calling it an Assessment Centre for the Socially-Displaced, but we don’t want it,” said Charles, with his listeners nodding in approval. In the first place, he said, for 20 years they kept pushing us around, claiming that the property was privately-owned. Then they found out that they had the power to acquire it.”

Charles lamented that Laventille does not have a community centre, not even in Eastern Quarry, Beetham Estate, Sea Lots, St Joseph Road nor Beverly Hills. He acknowledged that they have the St Paul Street Centre, but that is used for special purposes like basketball and other sports, but not for community activities. “If the Government wants to see what Laventille people give, let them go ahead with their vagrant centre. Hell will break loose,” said Charles. Another well-known member of the Laventille community, Arthur “Shabbah” Regis, said moving the vagrants from the Piccadilly Street area is just to get them away from Port-of-Spain. “But why they choose Laventille to dump them,” he asked.

“We eh taking that, because it means more drugs — cocaine and marijuana — in the district. “We don’t think that will help Laventille which already has its share of problems,” he said. He called on all the people of Laventille to unite to save the district. Cherrie Leacock, who said she was born in St Vincent, said she is not leaving John John because it is her home. “I voted for the PNM and promised to die a PNM, but the way they are treating us, I don’t know.” She also called on Laventille people to stand up and fight for what is rightfully theirs. Also expressing deep concern about the vagrant centre were Dexter Harris, Benedict and Ulric Francois.