Tempers flare at RIC consultation in Chaguanas

What began as a consultation in Chaguanas quickly turned into a shouting match as participants took officials from the Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) to task over a proposed electricity-rate increase on Wednesday afternoon.

The meeting, at Centre Point Mall, Chaguanas, was intended to address questions and concerns from the public over the proposed increase.

Participants and several UNC MPs and councillors began arriving at the meeting just after 5 pm, many of whom carried placards and a mock coffin to protest the increase.

The commotion began early in the meeting when resident Dulalchan Chattergoon interrupted  executive director of the RIC Glen Khan, callinh on him to “get to the point,” using a microphone and portable speaker, as other residents clapped and shouted their agreement.

Police assigned to the meeting intervened and called on Chattergoon to stop  interrupting, and Khan was allowed to continue his address.

However, tempers flared again when Khan remarked that, though he grew up in Chaguanas, he only recognised two of the attendees at the consultation, prompting jeers and shouts from the audience, including Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh.

In response, Indarsingh challenged Khan and called on him to apologise to those present, arguing that everyone there was from Central Trinidad and was entitled to be heard.

“These people are from the communities in Central Trinidad! They are from Caroni Central, they are from Couva South, they are from Chaguanas.

“This is not an imported crowd, this is a local crowd!”

Khan eventually apologised, adding that he meant no disrespect and was simply making an observation.

Khan noted that rate increases were necessary, but several residents, in their contributions during the open-floor segment, challenged his reasoning, arguing that no justification had been given for a rate increase.

Despite assurances from RIC chairman Dawn Callender earlier in the meeting that the commission was an independent, apolitical organisation, Indarsingh accused the officials of being “apologists” for the Prime Minister and Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales.

After several failed attempts to soothe the tensions, Callender told those present that she nor her colleagues would remain where they did not feel safe.

This further aggravated the crowd, who responded, “So what the police are here for?”

Indarsingh contended that neither Callender nor her team was in any danger.

After answering a few more questions from participants, tempers flared again when several pople called for a decrease in the electricity rates, instead of an increase.

During the exchange, one person began dragging the mock coffin in front of the stage where the RIC officials sat, leading to objections from Callender, who said she would end the meeting if the participants could not temper themselves.

In response, several people tore up RIC suggestion forms which had been given to them on entry, littering the floor.

Indarsingh, together with Princes Town MP Barry Padarath, San Juan/ Barataria MP Saddam Hosein and Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally, argued that the meeting could not be adjourned, as most of the participants had not got a chance to ask questions.

Before she could leave, the MPs walked to the stage and continued questioning Callender for her decision to end the meeting, arguing that it was unfair to those who attended.

Indarsingh asserted that Callender was in no danger and offered to escort her to her vehicle if she was fearful.

She was escorted by police out of the meeting room and the mall via a rear entrance.

Even after Callender left, the MPs continued to air their frustrations, as they recorded a video detailing the meeting while standing on the ground floor of the mall.