Soldiers have moved in to quell fiery protests which spilled on the southbound carriageway of the Solomon Hochoy highway, this morning.
The protest fires are causing a massive traffic pileup on the highway.
Two protesters have already been arrested and the Riot Squad is mobilizing to assist.
Claxton Bay has 107 scrap yard dealers and sources told Guardian Media that the dealers were prepared to take the protest in and outside of the region.
Before midday, police had already set up stationary and mobile patrols along the Cedar Hill Road, Southern Main Road and Claxton Bay Main Road.
Scrap iron workers during their protest over the ban on exports today, on the southbound carriageway of the Solomon Hochoy highway. [Image: IVAN TOOLSIE]
But while the scrap iron men met with the Movement for Social Justice political leader David Abdulah, several mobs of ironmen mobilized for fiery protests on the highway.
Devon Hayde told Guardian Media that the fire will burn until the government lifts the six month ban on scrap iron exports.
Hayde said many of the people involved in the scrap iron industry had criminal records and could not find work anywhere.
With school set to reopen in two weeks, Hayde said they could not buy food, pay rent or buy school supplies.
"We hungry and a hungry man is ah angry man," he shouted.
Aaron Sylvester said Claxton Bay is the centre of scrap iron. He said people in the industry were trying to make an honest dollar.
"How are we going to make out this six months when we do not have an income?" Sylvester said.
Abdulah called on the government to lift the ban, saying proper legislation should be put in place to regularise the industry.
He said it was inhumane and unjust to put hundreds of families on the breadline.
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Guardian Media will update this story and information comes to hand.