La Brea truckers backed down from a protest after a senior police officer warned of mass arrests if they continued to block access to the Union Industrial Estate, La Brea.
Acting ASP Angus Harry brought the protesters to heel after he advised them that those who were instigating protests will not be the ones who end up with a criminal record when the protest is over.
"It will be you, the residents, who will end up with a criminal record on your file," he warned.
The protests started around 7 am at the Union Estate roundabout. The Southern Main Road was blocked, preventing eight dump trucks and one water carrier truck, belonging to Junior Sammy Contractors Limited (Jusamco), from entering the Union Industrial Estate.
Holding up placards the truckers vowed to prevent Jusamco from paving a road leading from the Union roundabout to the La Brea port.Seelal Narine and Simon Jebodh claimed Sammy had not offered employment to La Brea residents and small contractors.
Narine said when Jack Warner was minister of works all contractors got work opportunities.
"How you expect us to pay installment? How you expect us to live?" Narine asked. PCs Daniel Boodoo, Darryl Ramlochan and Rishi Ramdath arrived at the scene shortly afterwards. Boodoo threatened to arrest anyone who blocked the roads.
ASP Harry and four jeeploads of police arrived shortly after. By 11.30 am the crowd dispersed and traffic flowed freely once again.Sammy was out of the country yesterday and could not be reached for comment. A company official said he was the only person authorised to speak.
MP for La Brea, Nicole Olivierre, did not answer her cellphone yesterday but in an interview last week she said some of the contractors in La Brea have already been given contracts. She said the matter of unemployment was being addressed.