Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
This policeman tries to resolve an argument between angry motorist Howard Scarlett (right) and a staff member at the Vineyards Toll Plaza in Bushy Park, St. Catherine, yesterday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
PANDEMONIUM ERUPTED at the Vineyards Toll Plaza in Bushy Park, St. Catherine, yesterday as angry motorists and defiant staff clashed after a decision to suspend toll services.
The livid motorists seemed ready to riot as their mad rush to escape the heavy downpours from Hurricane Wilma was impeded.
As traffic backed up, the
disgruntled motorists, who were denied access on either side of the toll road for about an hour, damaged an automated barrier and verbally abused staff at the toll plaza.
BARRIER RAMMED
The barrier was almost ripped to pieces after a bus carrying passengers headed to May Pen rammed into it after a failed attempt to go through. The police had to step in and quell the dispute before the situation escalated.
A Mr. Murray, an attendant in charge, was adamant that he would not allow motorists to pass under his watch because of the danger.
However, the motorists, some of whom insisted they should not have to pay under these 'emergency conditions', insisted that 'dem fly di gate'.
"Leggo the toll and let the people go through," yelled a bystander.
Howard Scarlett, one of the more vociferous motorists, insisted that the law dictated that everyone should be given free passage. "People shouldn't be paying to pass at this time because this is the only route because Old Harbour is impassable," he said.
The heated arguments almost reached boiling point and, in a few instances, threatened to end in fistfights. One man took it upon himself to manually open the automated barrier but he was stopped by an attendant.
The eventful wait at the toll gate was nothing short of dramatic. After the collection resumed and motorists were granted their wish, a cashier and a motorist signalled the start of Round Two. Once again, the movement of traffic was stalled.
The cashier decided that she was not going to let the driver through because he threw the money at her. Despite being coaxed by her superiors and the police, the female attendant was resolute. She even demanded the police arrest the driver. With a wry smile, the officer asked, "On what charge?" The driver was just as adamant that he would not apologise and denied throwing the money at her.
The looming riot was thwarted later as staff at the toll plaza started to give persons free access to the Corporate Area. Eventually, on the advice of the police, the other lanes were opened.
The police, however, warned that motorists desiring to go beyond Old Harbour should venture at their own peril.
