There is an ongoing investigation after the Trini police say dozens of individuals were found shackled, and in cages inside a rehabilitation center for former prisoners in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday.
Authorities said a minimum of 69 men and ladies were rescued from this “modern-day slavery” operation at the Transformed Life Ministry Rehabilitation Center in Arouca, just outside the capital city of Port of Spain, consistent with Reuters. The compound is reportedly traveled by a spiritual organization aimed toward helping ex-prisoners transition back to society. Delusional.
6 staffs were arrested after police discovered several men and ladies locked inside cages during a raid of the power. The Trinidad Express, a daily newspaper, reported that pastor and organization/church founder Rev. Glen Awong was among those detained and questioned.
Awong, an ex-prisoner himself, decried authorities’ claims that his center is involved in human trafficking or was operating what commissioner Gary Griffith described as a slave house. Rather, he said he believes he’s being targeted because he’s currently during a legal battle with the govt for non-payment of $1.4 million.
“I worked for the govt under the road dwellers program with the Ministry of Social Development, and that they are owing me money,” Awong told the Express on Thursday. “There may be a cabal to return strongly against me and that they want to color me in black.”
“I am recommended by doctors, health facilities, so all they’re saying isn’t true,” he added. “If it had been true, that they had a right to lock me up and my staff yesterday.”
Staff at the power were also defending Awong’s character, describing him as an altruistic, “hardworking” man.
“I want to understand where the police got human trafficking from?” one worker told the outlet. “Because these people aren’t being trafficked. They’re all here and accounted for, and there are documents and receipts for these people and it’s not a free service.”
The parents of 1 of the male victims painted a way different picture, however, and said they intended to talk out about the “the horrifying experience they endured and continue to endure by the loss of their son in these most tragic circumstances.”
It is unclear if the person died while detained at the power.
Police said the victims, who are all Trinidad and Tobago nationals, home in age from 19 over 65 and were transported to a medical facility for treatment.
In an interview with the Express, Awong acknowledged keeping some patients in seclusion rooms if they were a danger to themselves or others not in cages, as it’s been alleged.
He said his organization has been dedicated to helping the formerly incarcerated, unsound and drug-addicted for the last 20 years.
The incident remains under investigation.
