Thursday, May 6 2010

Undaunted by a paint attack on her on Tuesday, Alicia Hospedales, the PNM candidate for Arouca/Maloney, was back on the campaign trail meeting residents in the constituency yesterday.

“I won’t let this stop me,” Hospedales said last evening during another walkabout.

She had completed one at Bon Air Gardens, Arouca on Tuesday afternoon when a man surprised her and doused her with paint. Hospedales confirmed she had lodged a report of the incident with the police.

“Somebody threw red paint on me. It happened at Bon Air Gardens, Arouca at the corner of Emperor Boulevard and Skylark Crescent. I was sitting in a car. My walkabout had just ended,” she said. Asked to describe her assailant, she said, “I did not see him. The police did get a description.” Hospedales was taken to the Arima Hospital where she was treated and discharged.

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Gilbert Reyes yesterday said an officer of the Arouca Police Station has been mandated to probe the paint attack.

He said the suspect is known to the police and steps were made yesterday to locate the man. COP candidate for Arouca/Maloney Anna Maria Mora yesterday condemned reports of the paint attack on Hospedales.

“Ms Mora unreservedly condemns this dastardly act for which there can be no excuse,” the COP said yesterday in a press release.

“Ms Mora extends her hope that the PNM’s candidate was not harmed in any way as a result of this outrageous act.

“The People’s Partnership calls on all constituents to respect the right of everyone to represent and support the political party of their choice and to refuse to descend into any kind of divisive or violent acts which will deny people that right.”

Contacted yesterday, Mora disassociated herself from the incident. “I condemn in the strongest terms this action. I don’t know those people. I am against violence,” she said. She extended her hope that Hospedales was not harmed.