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 12. We now turn to the actual evidence. Construction on

 the pontoon bridge according to thb evidence started on or about

 the 16th or 17th of May, 1962, and as early as the 17th of May Mr.

Milan saw some young boys swimming in the river and climbing on

to the barges and this disturbed his workmen. A day or two after

he saw two ladies using the pontoon bridge to cross the river

and walking on the 2 x 12 planks between the two barges. He spoke

to them and told them it was dangerous. Later that day he

complained to Mr. Cattouso, the Minister of Public Works, Power

and Communications and i~r. Gill, Principal Secretary to the

Ministry. ,,s a result Mr. Cattouse and Mr. Gill in the company

of Inspector Brown and Commiasioner of Police Taylor visited the

site. They agreed that thispractice was dangerous and the Police

decided to put a constable on duty to stop the pedestrian crossing.

After a constable was posted at the pontoon bridge the number of

people using the bridge to cross diminished, but many still

continued to use it and argued with the Police when he tried to-

stop them.

 13. A barricade made out of 2 x 4 timbers fixed at a

height of four feet from the ground was placed at the entrance

of the ramp on the Pickstock Street side. People were still

able to pass under this barricade or around the end of it, and in

fact, did so. On the night of the 29th or 30th May, Milan's

watchman reported that some men broke down the barricade and threw

the lumber into the river. This was reported by Milan's workmen

to Assistant Superintendent of Police Fuller who suggested that

it be reported to the Police Department. The following day Mr.

Milan reported it to Mr. Cattouse and Mr. Gill and it appears

that Mr. Cattouse and Mr. Gill in company of the Police again

visited the site, While there, they discussed the problem of

people crossing and many other matters concerning the bridge

such as, handrails, traffic movements and signal lights.

Apparently, there were no written notices or signs advising people

 .. that the