Tempers flared at Rodrigues Trucking & Excavating Ltd. in Devonshire yesterday as Police and representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection attempted to confiscate two pieces of industrial equipment they say the company has been operating illegally.

Three employees, including owner Paul Rodrigues, attempted to prevent the removal by blocking the property?s narrow roadways with construction vehicles.

They were subsequently arrested for obstruction, while Mr. Rodrigues? father, Michael Rodrigues, was also seen in an angry confrontation with Police.

The company applied in September last year to the Environmental Authority to renew operating permits for the large sand sifter and rock crusher, but was rejected on the grounds that the machinery has been operated outside of the strict times stipulated by the original permit.

In a recent appeal to the Supreme Court, the company attempted to circumvent the permit issue by arguing the equipment was portable, and therefore not subject to the permit restrictions required under section 15 of the Clean Air Act.

The Court of Appeal rejected this suggestion, however, and a stop order was officially issued by Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield ? an order Dr. Thomas Sleeter, the director of the Department of Environmental Protection, said yesterday the company had been continually defying.

Repeated calls to the company?s office were not answered yesterday afternoon. According to those close to the dispute, the equipment?s removal will not signal the conclusion of legal hostilities.

Controversy has plagued Rodrigues Trucking?s work at the site near Devonshire Marsh in 2001, when Planning officials and environmental organisations accused it of illegally dumping material on highly-valued agricultural land.

Paul Rodrigues claimed at the time the company was doing nothing wrong and was only dumping material on land zoned as industrial ? although he has reportedly since gone about restoring some of the areas damaged by the mounds of rubble and soil.