Illegal quarriers fined paltry $200 each

The nine all pleaded guilty to the offence at the Arima Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Reynold Waldropt and were each fined a mere $200. They were arrested on Wednesday during a massive police/army operation in the Wallerfield area.

In ordering the fines, Waldropt said that "Mother Nature is crying," quoting from the song by calypsonian Baron.

"I hope and pray that those in power will pass more stringent legislation for such offences," the magistrate noted. A Cabinet-appointed task force last week recommended that all illegal quarrying operations be stopped and that the Police and Army move into areas where the illegal quarrying is taking place.

On Monday, head of the Special Anti-crime Unit, Brigadier Peter Joseph, head of the Defence Force, Brigadier Ancil Antoine, and Police Commissioner Trevor Paul met to discuss the planned raids at quarries.

On Wednesday, a large contingent of police and army officers swooped down on illegal quarrying in Wallerfield and Valencia.

Excavators, bulldozers and heavy equipment were seized.

Police sources revealed that 11 quarries were raided and the operation will continue throughout the country.

One of the quarries owned by Jamaat al Muslimeen Leader Yasin Abu Bakr in the Valencia forest was also raided, but no one was arrested.

The defendants held on Wednesday, Worrell Boodhoo, 53, of Tumpuna Road, Arima; Ganga Persad, 57, of Chickland, Freeport; Satesh Mahase, 43, of Longdenville; Robert Paponette, 47, of Valencia Road, Valencia; Andrew St Edwards, 27, of Wallerfield, Arima; David Bashay, 47; Brian Bachan, 40, of Orange Field Road, Carapichaima; Danny Guerra, 29, of North Oropouche, Sangre Grande; and 35-year-old Patrick Ramsammy of Sangre Grande, did not hesitate to plead guilty to the offence. They denied being members of the Jamaat.

In reading the charge, prosecutor Cpl Darceuil said that the accused were arrested after the complainant, Cpl Mahase, conducted a special exercise in the Wallerfield area.

The men were seen loading gravel onto trucks and were unable to produce a licence to do so. The nine were then charged with digging and removal of gravel on State lands without a licence, contrary to Section 25 (b) of the State Lands Act. All nine were represented by attorney Krishna Doodnath, who told the court that the Act was "a mistake in law and fact" as the land was in fact leased to Patrick Ramsammy, who gave permission to Brian Bachan to quarry. He added that Ramsammy was in breach of a covenant contained in the lease barring the removal of material.

"Both Ramsammy and Bachan were ignorant of this covenant," said Doodnath.

In passing sentence, Waldropt said the statutory sentence for the offence was not enough after ordering the fines.

On September 1, Energy Minister Eric Williams revealed that the security forces had initiated a crackdown against illegal quarry operations, and that Government intended to keep its promise to clean up the local quarry industry.