RADHICA DE SILVA
radhicasookraj@guardian.co.tt
Fiery protests are blazing for a second day at Palo Seco today but this time the protesters have chopped down trees, downed electrical lines and burned up water lines.
Some of the fallen electrical lines at SS Erin Road, Palo Seco. Image by Rishi Ragoonath
Even though rains continue to lash the area where the protest fires are burning.
The police and T&TEC officials are on site but so far they have failed to quell the blockades which burned in several places along the SS Erin Road.
At Bryan Trace one resident chastized the demonstrators saying: "Why are all you doing this? That is stupidness all you do there. How all you could burn the water line?"
A senior officer assisted in clearing up the debris.
Police officers clear debris from the SS Erin main road as resident protest on Wednesday. Image by Rishi Ragoonath
But a protester who requested anonymity said youths were fed up.
"The young people here have no opportunities. Gas prices rising, and food prices rising. The youths have nothing to do, and no jobs. $17.50 is the minimum wage now and $17.50 is the price of bread. It's ridiculous now. It is overbearing. If the youths have a trade or something, do you think they will be out here? It has nothing for them to do. They fed up now," she said.
Guardian Media will bring you more as this story unfolds.