Residents from Fairfield Road, off St. John's Road, St. Catherine, at a roadblock in their community yesterday. Taxi operators were protesting against the increase in motor vehicle fees while residents were demonstrating against the poor state of the road in the community. - Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer ONE MAN was killed, 19 persons were arrested and thousands stranded yesterday as taxi men staged an islandwide protest demonstration against increased taxes and fines imposed since the beginning of the year.
The demonstration crippled transportation in most parishes causing hundreds of workers and students to stay home and businessplaces and schools closed. It was generally peaceful, although the security forces were kept busy removing roadblocks, which were reassembled as soon as they were dismantled by the security men.
In Westmoreland, 60-year-old bus driver, Gladstone Allen, also known as 'G' of Belmont district, was stabbed to death as he attempted to transport passengers from Savanna-la-Mar to Montego Bay while his colleagues had withdrawn their services.
Gleaner reporters and correspondents across the island suggested that the action affected every parish, but to different extents. St. James, and especially Montego Bay, seemed the most seriously affected.
From the Portia Simpson Square in St. Andrew to the Old Harbour main road in St. Catherine, police personnel were strategically placed at various points.
The Government downplayed the effects of the demonstrations, saying it had little effect on the economy, but accused the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) of being behind the protests.
In a late evening press release, Maxine Henry-Wilson, general secretary of the People's National Party (PNP), accused the JLP of planning yesterday's civil protest "and then acting like the three proverbial monkeys who cover their eyes, muzzle their mouths and plug their ears after they have carried out their plans." But, this was denied yesterday evening by JLP deputy leader and spokesman on tourism, Edmund Bartlett.
A strong police and military presence prevented any major incidents in Montego Bay, but numerous roads were blocked and fires blazed high in the middle of several main streets leading in and out of communities. Hundreds of commuters were seen trekking to and from work, while others waited hopelessly for public transportation. Some taxi operators used their cars to block the roads in areas such as Salt Spring, Glendevon, Green Pond and Norwood. Other taxi and minibus drivers parked their vehicles to vent their disapproval of the tax hike.
There were attempts in some areas by protesters to prevent taxi drivers who had continued to work from carrying out their jobs by blocking the roads and opening up the car doors. Police, however, acted swiftly and prevented any confrontations.
Other major town centres in western Jamaica also saw mostly peaceful protests which left commuters and students stranded. Several schools in Clarendon suspended classes earlier yesterday. Following the disturbances, the police said at least 19 persons were arrested and charged under the Anti-Litter Act.
"A number of schools called me and I advised them to send home the students a little bit earlier," said Superintendent Warren Clarke, head of the Clarendon division.
Despite the mobility of scores of 'red plate' taxis in the May Pen area, Supt. Clarke said the police received information that a number of the taxi drivers who did not participate in the protest were threatened.
Hundred of commuters were left stranded at bus stops, while students returning from school walked miles to reach home. Supt. Clarke said the roadblocks started from the south in Lionel Town, Rocky Point, Hayes, to Bucknor, Turtle Crawl, Chapleton and Kellits in the north.
"I understand that a truckload of marl was dumped at Jacob Hut, near the train line. We are in the process of getting a front-end loader to remove it," Supt. Clarke.
A mass roadblock was mounted less than 50 metres from the gates of the Palmer's Cross Primary and Junior High School.
"When we realised what was happening, we decided to send home the students. If in the event any student is unable to reach home safely, we are prepare to facilitate them," said the school's principal, Gennis Thomas.
Karel Thomas, a 19-year-old resident of Palmer's Cross, told The Gleaner that she had planned to journey to Spanish Town, St. Catherine, yesterday to enrol at school, but the demonstrations prevented her.
Over in Manchester, a breakdown in the Area 3 police's internal telecommunications system hampered the police at one stage, from efficiently monitoring roadblocks mounted in the parish.
As early as 9:00 in the morning, some taxi operators plying the Mandeville to Knockpatrick route parked their vehicles at the Willowgate Plaza in Mandeville, in disapproval of the hike in the fees. However, for some motorists, it was business as usual.
At the Greenvale taxi park, seemingly irate taxi operators, under the watchful eyes of the police displayed placards depicting their views of the situation.
The situation was pretty much the same in Hatfield, where placard-bearing motorists parked on the roadway nearby a patrol car.
The St. Mary police were kept busy trying to maintain law and order along the roadways, as legal and illegal taxi operators took to the streets.
The operators parked their taxis on one side of the street while picketing the roadway with several placards saying "lower the tax". They said that were tired of the unknown situation in the transport industry and hoped that the Government would remove the high taxation imposed.
According to an operator, who says he has been in the trade for more than 30 years, the people cannot take an increase in the fare structure at this time, as most persons in St. Mary were not working.
Meanwhile, commuters including schoolchildren, were forced to walk to school and work. The withdrawal of the taxi men has resulted in the shortage of staff at several of the parish's learning institutions, health sectors, tourism industry and other businessplaces. A number of business persons in the parish said they hope that the matter will be resolved soon.
Areas affected are Annotto Bay to Portland, via Dover, Highgate to Annotto Bay, Port Maria to Kingston, Ocho Rios to Gayle and Oracabessa to Fellowship Hall.
"The police are maintaining a strong presence at those areas, despite there being no report of violence or disorderly conduct," said a high-ranking police officer from the St. Mary Police Department. However, the taxi operators vowed to continue their protest until they are addressed.
Several roadblocks mounted by taxi operators, with assistance from other motorists, in protest against the increases in motor vehicle licence fees and fines, kept the police in Portland busy.
The law enforcement officers were kept on the alert, as several roadblocks in various communities, including, Hope Bay, Snow Hill, Folly, Foreshore Road and sections of Fairy Hill had to be monitored.
The police were forced to maintain a strong presence, especially at the Foreshore Road area, where the loading and unloading of commuters using taxis and minibuses takes place. The Foreshore Area was blocked from about 7:30 a.m., but was later cleared by the police, despite threats and insults hurled at them by some taxi operators.
Newly-appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Port Antonio Branch, Anthony Davis, told The Gleaner that the situation at Foreshore Road was under control.
"So far, we have managed to clear this area," said Mr. Davis. "At this time, the demonstrators are rather peaceful, but we will, however, be maintaining a strong police presence in the area to ensure a free flow of vehicular traffic," added the Superintendent.
At West Street, in the heart of Port Antonio, several motorists were held up in vehicular traffic, after taxi operators plying the Port Antonio route blocked the main road with drums, wooden tables, garbage containers, no-parking signs and grill fencing.
The vehicles were held up for more than 35 minutes, but the roadblocks were cleared by the police, who again had to survive the verbal onslaught of the large crowd that had gathered.
Between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. several students from prominent high and primary schools, along with working-class persons, were left stranded in sections of Hope Bay, St. Margaret's Bay and Snow Hill.
Drivers in Lyssons, Seaforth and Nine Miles in St. Thomas staged peaceful demonstrations in their areas. There was only one report of a roadblock along the Lyssons main road, but that was quickly cleared by the police. The police accused the drivers of intimidating others who were working, even physically taking passengers from the cars. But, the protesters denied removing any passengers, claiming that after 'reasoning' with their colleagues, the drivers kindly asked their passengers to exit the vehicles.
All the drivers maintained that the increases are excessively high, citing that some fines have increased by up to 300 per cent.
In Seaforth, taxi drivers parked their cars and were adamant that they would not cease their action until there is a roll back of the increases. They are also calling for reforms to the Traffic Court in Yallahs, as they feel that they are not receiving fair hearings.
In Nine Miles, illegal taxi operators, popularly known as 'robots', lined the streets as drivers parked their vehicles. Taxi men who spoke with The Gleaner said that buses plying the Cane River to Kingston route were also on strike. They complained that the police are quick to charge them for chartering, even if they are carrying a single passenger.
At press time, there were no arrests but at least one driver was ticketed for obstructing traffic. The police said they are unsure if there will be further protests today but are prepared to handle them.
