Defiant anti-Summit demos
There was open defiance against the police on Saturday as anti-Summit demonstrations took place in Port of Spain and South Trinidad.
Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert had denied permission for the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FITUN) to march through the streets of Port of Spain but anyway a small group of FITUN supporters walked around Cipriani’s Statue on Independence Square around midday.
They did so under the watchful eyes of heavily armed riot policemen who outnumbered them but took no action.
FITUN leader David Abdulah said that they simply wanted to make a statement about labour, economic and other issues in the country and the intention was to be peaceful and not to disrupt the Summit proceedings at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
The organisation later staged a larger demonstration at UWI where it was holding the People’s Summit.
At St James, the police tried to break up a concert entitled “Drummit to the Summit” at the St James Amphitheatre.
The concert was addressed by environmentalists including Dr Peter Vine and the police eventually allowed it to continue until 6p.m. when it ended.
And at Tarouba, near the unfinished Brian Lara Stadium, Opposition politician held a small demonstration.