Law enforcement officers were barred from entering the St Michael community of New Orleans last night.
Metal grates normally used to cover drains along Baxters Road were removed to prevent police officers from driving through the area. It was only after 9 a.m. today with the assistance of the Roving Response Team that the metal grates were welded back into place to prevent a reoccurrence.
In another act of lawlessness, a bucket was also placed over a streetlight, limiting visibility in the area.
When contacted, police public relations officer Inspector Rodney Inniss told Barbados TODAY he was not aware of the situation.
However, president of the Roving Response Team Ricardo Patrick confirmed they received a call from police operations control this morning requesting assistance.
The Roving Response Team is a volunteer organisation which supports the Barbados Fire Service and the Royal Barbados Police Force. It also responds in cases of emergencies.
The Roving Response Team welding the metal grates back into place.
“My team got a call from operations control asking for some assistance with the metal grills in the road. Apparently the folks in the Orleans area pulled them up so that vehicles could not enter into the gaps. Also, they put a bucket over a streetlight in the gap.
“So they called us and asked how we could assist them, so we put together a team as one of my guys has a welding plant,” Patrick explained.
He said with police keeping a close watch as they worked, they were able to return the metal grills to the drains.
Patrick said while they took a decision to weld the grills together, it would not prevent the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) or MTW from removing them if need be.
He said when members of the team proceeded to remove the bucket they were lauded by persons from the community.
“We had to use a 40-foot ladder to get to the bucket, but when we were finished there were some people who applauded. One lady was even saying that she is old and that she was glad for the light,” Patrick said.
He said the irresponsible actions could have resulted in a catastrophe, adding that if an emergency had occurred in the area last night emergency personnel would not have been able to gain access to the roads.
“Why would you do something like that? Imagine something happened in that area, which is densely populated, can you imagine that the Fire Service or the Ambulance Service going down there only to realize that they can’t get in, or that they try to get in and get stuck?
“That is so ridiculous. Why would somebody choose to do something like that, especially at a time when the country is under a 24-hour curfew and people are supposed to be inside?” Patrick queried.
He said this was the first time that he had ever encountered such a situation. randybennett@barbadostoday.bb
