Part of Guanapo church collapses; looters move in

A major portion of the controversial church under construction in the Heights of Guanapo in Arima, Trinidad, was reduced to a pile of rubble Wednesday.

Reports from Trinidad say the a section of the structure collapsed after a looter entered the construction site and pulled down a part of the scaffolding, which brought down a section of the building.

The 'scavenger' is in hospital for treatment to injuries sustained when he fell. Another person was also injured.

The reports say other looters quickly moved in and helped themselves to whatever they could carry away.

The Church was featured prominently in opposition attacks against then Prime Minister Patrick Manning since February when Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner produced pictures showing the construction and demanding to know if the government was involved and whether Manning himself knew about it.

It turned out that UDeCOTT and Calder Hart, its executive chairman at the time, were also involved along with the Shanghai Construction Company, the same company that built the multi-million-dollar Prime Minister's Residence and Diplomatic Centre.

Read the story: Hart helped with Guanapo church: Report

Manning sternly defended himself and denied any involvement. He went on a one-hour tirade in Parliament in which he claimed that the opposition had launched an attack on the full gospel movement and called on Christians to stand up and defend themselves.

Read the story: Manning defends his right to religious freedom

But during the election campaign, then opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar showed reporters what she said was clear evidence that Manning was directly involved.

Following the election the architect who produced the drawings for the structure admitted that Manning was connected to the church from the planning stages.

Read the story: Manning was directly involved in Guanapo church: Mendes

Construction work was halted just before the election and there has been no construction work at the site since then. The church is under investigation by police and the Integrity Commission. And Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has asked the authorities to secure the site.