FOUR construction workers-three operators and a mechanic – attached to Celina’s Atlantic Resort at the Kitty seawall were arrested yesterday afternoon after the resort owners failed to abide by a cease work order issued by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

A statement from the ministry yesterday said a formal complaint was filed with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and as a result the four workers were taken into police custody when officers visited the location on the Kitty foreshore.

The ministry has been expressing concern with the ongoing construction at the site due to the risk it poses to sea defence. “Today, November 25, 2015, MPI lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the construction work underway at CAR. For quite some time now, MPI has been concerned with the ongoing construction due to the risk it poses to sea defence,” the release stated.
Following advice from the police legal advisor, the owners of Celina Resort can be prosecuted under the Sea Defence Act.
When law enforcement officers went to the resort site at about 16:30hrs, employees were observed working. Three persons were arrested on the spot and the fourth was subsequently taken into custody.
“A police official has confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the extensive and detrimental work undertaken by CAR. The official also shared that the employees have all singled out the same person as their employer,” the statement said.
It is hoped that the arrest of the construction workers will “send clear messages to both employees and employers at CAR and will act as a deterrent in the future,” the statement added.

Meantime, subject minister David Patterson applauded the police for their swift response. “I must commend the police for doing their job. The ministry takes the protection of the sea defence and the preservation of our protection extremely seriously and we will continue to monitor the situation,” said Patterson.
No permission granted for extension
Meanwhile, Patterson yesterday discredited claims by the CAR’s spokesperson, Bobby Vieira that permission was granted to the entity to expand their operations. “I know nothing about that; we at the ministry are the only persons who can grant permission for such an enterprise to be expanded.”
The resort came under the microscope by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure after the commencement of what is believed to be expansion works. “At least three cease orders to halt construction taking place there have been issued; they have been ignored. As such, we will be filing the injunction today,” the minister said.
Vieira was quoted in another section of the media as saying that Celina Atlantic Resort has a lease that allows for the property to be developed. “We have the lease here which allowed the property to be developed. We have the restaurant and liquor license paid up-to-date. You can’t have that unless you had permission in the lease that allowed you to build in the first place,” Vieira said according to the media report.