Pictured Above: Mounds of dirt dumped by protesting scrap iron workers on Monday morning. Photo Credit: Kristian De Silva.
Two (2) mounds of dirt were dumped by protesting scrap iron workers on the Northbound lane of the Sir Solomon Hochoy highway this morning (Monday 29th August 2022). The blockage caused a major traffic gridlock for motorists heading to work, on business, and for personal reasons. The scrap iron workers warned last week that they intended to escalate their ongoing protest action.
According to reports, the mounds of dirt were dumped at exactly 4:00 AM, when two (2) dump trucks travelling North along the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, near Claxton Bay, came to a stop on both lanes and emptied their loads onto the roadway. A ”warning fire” was lit to the front of the heaps in order to warn drivers of the blockage. Traffic this morning was reportedly backed up for several hours from Claxton Bay to Corinth Flyover, with thousands of motorists trapped in a gridlock. Some of the scrap iron workers gathered at the top of the Claxton Bay Flyover to view the havoc their action caused this morning, as motorists suffered in near-standstill traffic. Prime Minister Keith Rowley responded to the chaos on the Highway this morning. In a statement shared on his Facebook page, the Prime Minister said, “ So they have made their move. Dump truckloads of sand and debris on both sides of the Highway and block traffic! What a wonderful idea of leadership from Roget and the followers including the UNC! The marauding gangs of metal thieves threatened to, but did not complete the job of shutting down the country, so the leaders are helping them to get that done.”
It reportedly took more than four (4) hours for a backhoe to be located in order to clear the dirt from the Highway. The clearing process then took less than ten (10) minutes. Many on social media questioned why not a single authority, not the Ministry of Works, Local Government Ministry, Police Highway Patrol or the Regional Corporation, could find a backhoe to push the dirt out of the way and allow for the free flow of traffic.
According to one of the organizers, who asked for anonymity, the action was taken this morning by South Trinidad scrap dealers, and workers from Claxton Bay, Debe, and Barrackpore. The source said that the shoulder of the Highway was “strategically/intentionally left clear to allow for emergency use.” Spokesman for the scrap iron workers, Jamal Bruce, defended their action this morning by saying the authorities had not given them a fair hearing. “Yes, people inconvenienced but we inconvenienced too. What about we? Anybody studying we?” he asked. He pointed out that the entire community of Claxton Bay was suffering due to the Government’s ban on the scrap iron industry for six (6) months, which was done in order to regularize the industry and deal with the rampant theft of copper cables across the country. The exportation of scrap metal was banned on 12th August 2022, and will continue until February next year. “The roti shop, the small shop owner, all of them depending on us for a dollar. But the Government shut down the industry with no regard for us,” Bruce said. He reiterated that scrap iron workers could not buy books, uniforms or food for their families. Bruce shut down talk of grants being offered to scrap iron workers by Minister of Social Development, Donna Cox. “We don't know how to go about getting grants. This grant is just another way for bobol, not to help us,” he said. Meanwhile, Ryadell De Four, another scrap iron worker, lamented, “This is highly unfair, and we are feeling the brunt. This could never be right.” He referred to the Highway blockade this morning as a ”minor inconvenience,” and called on the Government to meet with the workers and provide a positive response. “We want you to feel our pain, and understand how we feel,” De Four added. The scrap iron workers warned that more protests will be held this week until the industry is fully re-opened. This is a developing story - refresh this page for updates. [Source: T&T Guardian] We are a small operation. If you've found our articles to be informative, please consider supporting us via PayPal or buying us a coffee. Your contribution is incredibly appreciated and goes a long way. Simply sharing our articles also helps us. Sign up for our free WhatsApp Alerts to be notified as soon as we post breaking news. NEW! Check out our Merchandise Store for high-quality t-shirts, hats and more!
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