Police hold two women...

Two Laventille women were yesterday arrested by police officers for taking part in an illegal protest demonstration in their area. According to police, the women, along with other Laventille residents, blocked the roads to their area protesting what they deem an unfair hike in taxi fares.     

The demonstration, which started shortly before 7 am caused many residents to be stranded as vehicular traffic was prevented from entering and leaving the area. The residents used old appliances and other debris, causing a massive traffic pile-up along the Picton-Laventille road. According to one resident, the PH taxi drivers who ply the Port-of Spain to Picton Road route, have increased the taxi fares and residents cannot afford the increase. The resident said there are several areas along Picton Road, all of which used to cost between $2 and $3. But with the increases, some residents now have to pay as much as $10 to get to Picton.

Residents of Pump Trace, Dan Kelly and Quarry, Laventille, who used to pay $3 to and from Port-of-Spain now have to pay $4 for transportation. But the most drastic increase is the one from Port-of-Spain to Mentor Alley, which went up from $2 to $10. The residents chastised the PH taxi drivers, saying they were taking advantage of an already bad situation. “Many people up here cannot even afford to survive and you all want to hike up the prices?” one resident said. “I have four children to send to school? How am I going to pay for all of them to travel now?” But the PH taxi drivers feel their decision should have been expected since the cost of gas had been increased. And according to one driver, they have to live as well. The police  arrived shortly after the protest got started and arrested two women for ignoring instructions to clear the road. They were arrested and charged, and appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate. The residents said they plan to keep up their demonstrations until drivers reduce the  fares.