Ramesh: Police under attack

He was speaking to reporters during day four of an eight-day march from Cedros to Port-of-Spain against a number of Government policies, including construction of an alumimnium smelter plant at Chatham Village.

“While the Police Service is a utility of the State, the independence of the Police Service must not be compromised,” he said of the Ministry of National Security’s announcement Friday that the British officers had been appointed as SRP’s, while two officers had been appointed to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP).

Maharaj also noted that the Police Service Association had not yet “come on board” with the appointments and that the move could further lower morale within the service.

Meanwhile, joining Maharaj were Ricky and Sudesh Choon, relatives of the Oropouche pundit who was allegedly beaten by officers of the Oropouche Police Station.

Choon, 49, a father of two was allegedly attacked by the officers on almost two weeks ago while on his way to his Ackbar Trace, Old Siparia Road home.

Choon claimed he was kicked and doused with kerosene and threatened to set ablaze at the police station. Ricky, 20, said family members had joined the march to highlight the injustice that was done to his father.

“My father still in real pain although he was discharged from the hospital and nothiong is being done to bring those officers to justice,” he said. “It was very disgusting what happened to my father and up to now, nobody high up in the Police Service has called to find out how my father is feeling,” he said.

Conspiciously absent from yesterday’s march was Cedros/ Cap de ville Environmental Protection Group president, Fitzroy Beache, who has been in the forefront of the campaign against the construction of the aluminium smelter at Chatham.

In a telephone interview, Beache said he remained at the Chatham protest camp since word was recieved that represenentatives of the ALCOA were due to return to conduct testing at the site.

Day five of the march begins at Penal Junction at 10am today.