PORTLAND:
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 yesterday.
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 take place. The Foreshore Area was blocked at 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 5 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 road blocks were cleared by the police, who again had to survive the verbal onslaught of the large crowd that had gathered.
Between 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. several students from prominent high schools and primary, along with working class persons were left stranded in sections of Hope Bay, St. Margaret's Bay and Snow Hill, as taxi and mini-bus operators withdrew their service in the protest.
