UNC Alliance candidate, Lennox Smith, representative for Laventille East/Morvant has been arrested on a myriad of charges. Smith is due to contest the seat in the upcoming elections on November 5, 2007. The charges include, breaching a protection order, assault by beating and two counts of obscene language. Visible support from UNC Alliance has been nonexistent.
Guerra claimed that Smith sometime last year, through Life Women Incorporated, sub-contracted CW Interiors to install blinds at the Ministry of Labour, Riverside Plaza Complex, but the decorating company never received payment even though a deposit for TT$69,643.92 was made to an First Citizens account held by Samuel Lennox Smith trading as CW. She provided documents to back up this claim.
Smith did not specifically address the CW matter but on the other matters, said: "What the article did not say, however, is that those accounts no longer exist except for the MLIO account and the Life Women account. Life Women was a company that I created and gave to the same lady who is the author or the initiator of this malicious and wicked deed."
"It's just poor people who I have been assisting over the years that have attracted my attention and have come to me for assistance," he said.
Smith left a press conference, primarily called to address claims by Guerra. About one hour after that police swooped down and arrested him on charges that include, breaching a protection order, assault by beating and two counts of obscene language. The arrest took place at Smith's house on Philbert Street, Old St Joseph Road, by officers assigned to the Port of Spain Division, headed by Senior Supt Steve Waldron.
It is important to note that in the press conference prior to his arrest, Lennox Smith claimed he was assaulted by Guerra, displaying several bites and bruises. He also stated he still was in love with Guerra.
Police, however, said Guerra made several reports claiming that she was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Smith and also alleged that she suffered mental anguish. According to Waldron, Smith was arrested for breaching a three-year protection order granted by the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court on July 17, 2006.
After his arrest, Smith was taken to the St. Clair Police Station. There was no visible UNC Alliance support at the station for Smith. UNC Alliance top shotter, Basdeo Panday has stated Smith will be treated as innocent until proven guilty, as is the law in Trinidad and Tobago. Panday is also in and out of court these days.
