Commercial activity in Point Fortin came to a complete halt for several hours yesterday as protesters clashed with police, forcing the closure of several businesses and manufacturing enterprises along the south western peninsula. On the second day of protests in Point Fortin and La Brea, residents increased the number of fiery road blocks. Most businesses remained closed except for some restaurants and bars which were filled with people stranded because of traffic congestion caused by the protests. Once again residents and taxi drivers blocked roads with piles of debris to protest over poor road conditions and high unemployment in the area.
Barriers of burning debris were set up at strategic points along the Southern Main Road, including Sobo Junction, Cap-de-Ville and the Petrotrin Forest Reserve Road, blocking all routes into Point Fortin. Among the businesses in the Borough that remained closed due to the protests were TSTT, the Licensing Office and Republic Bank. Others that managed to open were operating with only skeleton staff. Traffic was at a complete standstill at Point D'Or Junction, La Brea, where protesters placed two lengths of pipe and burning debris across the roadway. Police officers from the South Western Division led by Insp Seedarie extinguished the fire and removed the pipes from the road. However, as they tried to allow traffic to flow, residents ran onto the roadway, formed a human barricade and began to clap and chant: "What we want? Better roads!"
A party atmosphere prevailed as protesters gathered at the nearby After Dark Bar. Addressing protesters outside the bar, Councillor Gerald Debisette informed them Works and Infrastructure Minister Jack Warner had visited with Point Fortin Mayor Clyde Paul. Debisette told residents Warner promised road repairs would begin in two weeks. Debisette said: "If work doesn't start in the next two weeks, you can protest again. Everything we do, we must be civil." The residents agreed to end the protest. When contacted, Paul confirmed Warner's promise that resurfacing of the Southern Main Road will begin in two weeks. Paul said employees of the Point Fortin Borough Council were sent out to clean the streets so that things could return to normal.
President of the Point Fortin South Western Chamber of Commerce Nigel Minor said the protest had negatively affected the business in the community. He said banks and retail outlets were forced to close resulting in a decrease in productivity. However, Minor said he understood why the residents felt the need to protest. "Anyone coming to Point Fortin will see the need for road repairs. The people are frustrated and you can't term the road as secondary, it's more like tertiary and it is really a shame to see it like this. A fleet of heavy transportation trucks on the way to Trinmar and Atlantic was held up in the traffic for several hours.
