MP’s nephew arrested

By FELICIA RAMPERSAD Thursday, June 4 2009
http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,101373.html

THE nephew of Fitzgerald Jeffrey, Member of Parliament for the PNM-controlled constituency of La Brea, and another man, were arrested and charged yesterday by police who had to clear debris from the La Brea Main Road following protests by residents over the construction of the Alutrint smelter plant.

Jevonne Jeffrey, 19, of Vance River and Kezlon Cooper, 22, from Pleasantville were arrested and charged with using annoying language during the protest in which residents blocked the main road leading to Point Fortin, Granville, Cedros and Icacos.

The protests are over Alutrint’s alleged failure to give more jobs to La Brea residents and instead, hiring overseas labour. The residents are also protesting against the failure of Government to make good on a promise to relocate all 77 families living too close to the construction site. So far, 27 families have been relocated.

At 2 pm yesterday, Jeffrey and Cooper appeared before magistrate Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds in the Point Fortin Second Magistrate’s Court. Both Jeffrey and Cooper will reappear in court this morning.

Residents of Vessigny, Vance River and Guapo used tyres, barrels, bottles and even a wooden shed to block the roadway. Heavily-armed police arrived and proceeded to remove the debris. When the lawmen left to attend to more protest activity in other locations along the road, the residents placed more debris from the cleared road. Efforts to reach MP Jeffrey yesterday for comment proved futile.