The general manager of the Soufriere Fishermen’s Cooperative Society in St Lucia says that the theft of 133 twenty-pound gas cylinders during the passing of Hurricane Beryl has severely affected the business.
According to the manager, on Monday, July 1 young men were seen breaking the gas cylinder racks and stealing gas cylinders from the cooperative. They were asked to stop but continued stealing from another rack.
“All the gas cylinders were missing,” she said, noting that the police later recovered six of them and a few others were returned by members of the public.
The manager of the establishment said coolers were also stolen. “We used to lend people those coolers to hold fundraising activities,” she said.
“Right now, we don’t have no kind of revenue. If we had the LPG, we would have been doing some business. Nothing is taking place here, our pumps have been washed away,” she lamented.
She heard that some persons took the position that it wasn’t theft to which she said once you take something that’s not yours without the owner’s permission, it’s theft.
“If we allow the young men to do such a thing, we are aiding and abetting,” she said, adding that she was told that people bought gas cylinders from the young men.
According to the manager, what the boys did should not be accepted.
She said the cooperative would be very happy if the tanks were returned.
As of this morning, there has been no arrest in connection with the incident.