6 days ago
4
Senior Investigative Reporter
Toco/Sangre Grande constituents are praying for no harm to come to their Member of Parliament and Defence Minister Wayne Sturge.
Amid the calm in the squatting settlement of Vega De Oropouche in Sangre Grande yesterday, resident Dexter Ferguson said reports of alleged threats made against Sturge were hard to digest, given the growing crime situation.
The alleged death threats against Sturge were revealed over the weekend.
Sturge is one of three Government ministers whose lives were recently threatened.
The two others are Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Amen and Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Monday blamed the threats on “gangs being starved of funds due to the clampdown on URP and CEPEP” and police actions to dismantle their operations. She assured the protective services would respond “swiftly and mercilessly”.
But yesterday, Ferguson lamented that not even politicians were being spared by criminals.
“It has not been sitting nice with me because I know Sturge is a good fella … a good guy,” Ferguson said, adding that the news was shocking to him.
“I really feeling it for him.”
Ferguson, who is unemployed, said Sturge often goes out of his way to lend a helping hand to anyone in the Northeastern region, which has a high unemployment and poverty rate.
“Sturge didn’t help me, but he helped people close to me already. He’s doing his work. It has been evident in the last four months. I don’t know if people are envious of our MP.”
The 55-year-old constituent said all he could do was pray for Sturge’s safety and protection.
“Sturge has my prayers, and I will continue to pray for him. You know how people envious and bad mind today. Once they see Sturge helping certain people and other people not getting help, you know that would cause a rift … a contention.”
Since winning the Toco/Sangre Grande seat for the United National Congress in the April 28 General Election, Ferguson said Sturge has been at his constituents’ side and improving communities.
Asked what may have triggered the threats against Sturge, Ferguson said crime.
He explained that criminals believe politicians are the ones benefiting from cushy jobs and high-paying salaries, while they are left on the losing end.
“They feel they are being given scraps or nothing,” Ferguson said.
Such resentment, the father of one added, can lead to ministers being threatened.
Walking along the bustling Toco Main Road in Vega De Oropouche, farmer Theophilus Edward, 78, wondered if Sturge did something to warrant such alleged death threats.
“People doh get threatened just so. For what? You have to ask if he do something wrong,” Edward said.
Edward added that nowadays you just have to look at someone hard and people were ready to kill you.
“I am sure the Government would go all out to provide additional security for him, so I am not worried.”
Briskly sweeping her yard, a 70-year-old pensioner who requested anonymity said the news of Sturge being threatened broke her heart.
“You see that man call Wayne Sturge … it ain’t have another like him. The people voted for him, and he has been delivering. All I could do is ask God to protect and shield him.”
Dropping her broom, the elderly woman, who described herself as a die-hard UNC supporter, clasped her hands and called on the Almighty to keep Sturge safe and sound.
“Father, I call on you today for divine intervention. Lord, whatever you do, don’t let harm come his way. I know Sturge for years. He has never turned his back on me.”
One of 200 squatters living at Arcadia Street, Christian Sandiford, who said he was a strong supporter of the People’s National Movement, claimed that during the election he faced threats from members of the UNC who had questions hanging over their heads. Sandiford said the alleged threats have now reached Sturge’s doorstep, so he was not surprised.
“You don’t mess with these people,” Sandiford said.
English (US) ·