A reward of $100,000 is being offered for information that can lead to the arrest and prosecution of persons responsible for acts of vandalism on public utilities installations across Trinidad and Tobago.
Acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob made the announcement at a Media Conference today to highlight recent acts of vandalism at WASA and TSTT facilities. Among the numbers to call with information are 555 and 800-TIPS.
The Acting Police Commissioner believes these incidents are “beyond acts of theft” and should be viewed as “acts of malicious damage” since they have crippled service for days, or weeks in some instances.
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds condemned these attacks at the various public utilities facilities, saying officials see it as “a serious National Security threat.” He confirmed that police will heighten focus on public utilities installations, and TTDF personnel will also patrol/keep watch at these installations.
And Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales noted that the latest act of vandalism at WASA’s California Booster Station has cost $400,000 in damage. He confirmed that it would take WASA two to three weeks to get the infrastructure up and running.
Minister Gonzales said so far, WASA has spent $4 million on restoration works after various acts of vandalism.
The Public Utilities Minister also noted that vandalism has affected the work of TSTT over the past year, with the company recording 361 fibre breaks across T&T in addition to 90 acts of vandalism. He said TSTT has spent millions of dollars on restoration works.