radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Fiery blockades continue to burn in several parts of Williamsville, Iere Village, Princes Town and Naparima Mayaro Road, as taxi drivers and villagers staged protests over deplorable road conditions and rising fuel prices.
The protests started at 3 am and fizzled out around dawn but as the police left, more blockades re-ignited at Williamsville Junction, Garth Road and Iere Village Branch Road.
President of the Williamsville/Princes Town Taxi Drivers Association, Wendell Baboolal, said Garth Road is 90 per cent impassable.
"The gas prices are ridiculous, and people are frustrated. We have decided we cannot take this anymore. Our vehicles are going at a 90- degree angle to pass through. We had a few landslips recently and we used to get some remedial work before but now we are getting nothing. We have to use a connecting route and it is dangerous. We are not getting any assistance and we are fed up," Baboolal said.
Residents of Garth Road in Williamsville dumped a load of debris and tyres in the road, as they protested poor road conditions in the area, on Monday 10 October 2022. [Image by RISHI RAGOONATH]
Motorists who were caught in the blockades expressed frustration with the road conditions.
"We are really fed up with this government. We need a change in this country. Food prices rise, and gas price raise. How they expect a poor man to live," he shouted.
Taxi driver Ram Garib of Tableland said Main Road taxi drivers were also fed up.
"The potholes causing us distress. All the big trucks are passing on the main road now since the Tasker Road is impassable and they mashing up the road," he said.
Guardian Media will bring you more as this situation unfolds.
