TT govt to take control of abandoned Guanapo church: report

A report in the Newsday newspaper Monday says the government of Trinidad and Tobago is planning to take control of the abandoned site of the controversial Guanapo church and to ensure that no one is allowed to loot the site.

The construction of the church became a major issue just before and during the general election campaign earlier this year. The opposition at the time alleged that state funds were being used to build the church for Rev. Juliana Pena, the spiritual adviser of former Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

Manning has always denied that and other charges that UDeCOTT was also involved in the $30 million project.

Newsday says its sources have said the government plans to convert the compound into either an orphanage, a half-way house for battered women or a drug rehabilitation centre. It said the compound might be able to cater for all three.

The paper said engineers are now preparing a report on the state of structure for Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner. Once that is done, the matter would go before cabinet for a final decision on what to do with the structure, the paper said.