Moonilal: No govt help for Beetham

No fresh social initiatives for jobs or recreation were offered to the Beetham community by the Government after Thursday’s unrest, thereby undermining Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s warning to protestors in a national address, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal told the House of Representatives yesterday.

He was piloting a private motion hitting the Government’s housing policy.

“It was so terrible what we witnessed yesterday (Thursday),” Moonilal said.

He accused Rowley of boufing the culprits during his televised address on the issue yesterday, but offered no new initiative, plan or policy to engage those communities.

“Culture and sports along with employment are very important to empower persons.”

Saying the community was now alienated, Moonilal surmised if Rowley had offered a new policy he would have brought fresh hope.

He criticised Rowley for allegedly gruffly ignoring reporters’ queries about Beetham at an event at Couva on Thursday.

Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon, in answering an urgent question earlier, said the unrest came as a reaction to the police arresting two people. He also admitted to a “gap” in operations which resulted in drivers being attacked by residents. Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young, answering another urgent question, justified Rowley directing Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams at a recent news briefing because the prime minister chairs the National Security Council.