Technicians at the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission did not go out on the field yesterday to repair electricity lines and read meters after an employee was attacked by bandits earlier this week.

T&TEC’s management asked yesterday that workers be allowed to repair lines, read meters and wiring poles without having to fear for their lives.

The workers were said to have stayed inside their offices yesterday.

Workers at the utility company have been attacked in the past while doing their jobs.

The most recent of these came on Wednesday when an employee reading a meter in the Mt Hope area was robbed by bandits and shot in the stomach.

The management, as well as the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union condemned the attack.

Annabelle Brasnell, T&TEC’s communications manager told the Express during a brief interview that the management was involved in discussions with workers yesterday morning, concerning the implementation of possible new measures to improve their security.

She said management also wanted to get feedback on the employees’ concerns.

She said even if employees were more vigilant, and the company worked harder to secure them, it must be a ’group effort, with the public involved’.

She said people had to realise that these workers were important and their health and safety were important.

’They provide an essential service. They must be allowed to do their jobs safely,’ she said.