Iron thieves hit again!

Works and Infrastructure Minister Jack Warner told reporters Friday scrap iron thieves have hit another bridge - the new Bailey Bridge in Blanchisseuse.Warner spoke about the theft when he formally opened the news bridge, saying the thieves struck one day after the construction of the bridge was completed. 

He told the media he learned about it from his permanent secretary. "She said Minister, you know they stole some iron from the bridge. 

"I said there too? She said yes, and I said PS, find a solution but we opening on Friday, and whatever she did, we solved the problem and here we are today to open this bridge."

The ministry had to find parts from other replacement bridges in storage to replace the stolen parts so that the 140-foot bridge could open on schedule.

Acting Tourism Minister Winston Peters, who spoke at the event (read related story) expressed anger on hearing about what happened.

"I am not as diplomatic as you guys," he said. "Draconian times call for draconian measures. Just like how they implementing some kind of thing for the dogs because they find dogs are a menace, these scrap iron people have become a menace to the country. Scrap the scrap iron industry."
Three weeks ago iron thieves attacked the Cedros Bridge. And in another incident men posing as road work contractors were caught trying to remove a metal pipe in Siparia. 

Both ministers urged Blanchisseuse residents to be vigilant and protect the bridges.

Warner said: "At the time, we had a cement problem and yet they built it in two months' time with a cement problem. Therefore as Minister Peters is saying let the villagers treasure it and let them be the first and last watchdogs for the bridge."