A man examines one of the four vehicles that were set afire by workers at the Fiesta Hotel site in Point, Hanover, during a massive demonstration yesterday. -Photo by Noel Thompson

Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Tempers flared, fires raged and thick, black smoke which billowed hundreds of feet high could be seen for miles as the Fiesta Hotel constructionsite at Point, Hanover, descended into anarchy yesterday.

That was what the small district of Point resembled when about 2,000 construction workers staged a massive protest, after news spread that one of their colleagues, 57-year-old Anthony Williams, of Prospect in the parish, had been shot, allegedly by the police.

"We are not being treated fairly. We are contracted to start working at 8:00 a.m. but the site manager instructed the security guards to lock out persons without identification and workers who turn up for work later than 7:30," said a worker, who was strongly supported by her colleagues.

"This (yesterday) morning we turned up for work and were locked out. One worker was paying the taxi driver his fare when he was shot in the head."

Donovan Williams, a security officer employed to Acid Security Firm, which is contracted to the site, said it could not be ascertained who had shot Mr. Williams. According to him, workers were firing a barrage of shots, when police and security personnel responded.

11 vehicles destroyed

Several buildings on the site were set ablaze and about 11 vehicles reportedly belonging to the Fiesta Hotel were damaged or destroyed. Fire was set to at least four of the vehicles. The Gleaner news team saw two pickup trucks, a small truck and a jeep being set ablaze. Protestors hauled a group of men from the jeep while they were travelling along the main road, then set it on fire.

The news team was also informed that rampant pilfering took place during the demonstration when men loaded several items onto boats. Persons were also seen stealing sheets of zinc from the premises.

In the wake of yesterday's incident, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has given instructions for a full and complete investigation to be carried out into the matter. Speaking on radio yesterday, the Prime Minister's press secretary, Lincoln Robinson, said a report was to be presented to Mrs. Simpson Miller as soon as possible.

The situation was only brought undercontrol when a contingent of armed police personnel, numbering about 75, was brought in and the workers were addressed by Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Area One, Clifford Blake.

A private helicopter later rescued a group of foreign workers who had locked themselves inside a building under the watchful eyes of the police.

ACP Blake said all the police personnel involved in yesterday's incident have been removed from frontline duties, pending investigations.

According to a statement from Dr. Donald Rhodd, Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, the weapons fired by police personnel, and security guards are to be sent for ballistic testing. He said the police are moving to establish a continuous presence at the construction site to prevent any further incidents. The site was closed following the incident.

The 1,600 room hotel is being built by the Spanish at a cost of US$150 million (J$10 billion).