Laventille West Member of Parliament Kareem Marcelle has accused an unnamed UNC government minister of deliberately delaying the restoration of electricity to Beetham Gardens.
Marcelle claimed he was reliably informed that electricity should have been restored by seven o’clock Monday morning, but alleged that T&TEC officials were instructed not to reconnect the supply.
He further claimed that a senior official was brought to tears over what he described as hatred, spite and racism.
However, Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath has rejected the allegations.
Padarath explained that Saturday’s fire at the TSTT compound in Laventille had compromised electricity lines, requiring T&TEC to take safety precautions before restoring power.
He accused Marcelle of spreading a fabricated story and putting politics ahead of residents’ safety.
Marcelle subsequently confirmed that electricity had been restored after approximately thirty-three hours, thanking T&TEC employees whom he claimed had pushed back against interference.
The MP’s allegations of political interference remain unsubstantiated.
The dispute follows Saturday’s fire at the TSTT cable compound, with the cause of that blaze still under investigation.
