Taxi drivers in South continue protest

Following the massive protest actions by villagers and taxi drivers of the southern districts, thousands of workers and school children were forced to stay home yet another day of the new school term. The taxi drivers continued their protest action when they refused to transport the commuters to their different destinations.

On Tuesday last, villagers blocked the roads at Barrackpore and Princes Town with water tanks, tree-trunks and tyres to protest the bad road conditions. According to a taxi driver, Pandeo Sookdeo, these actions were planned for the beginning of the new school term so as to get the attention of those in authority.  President of the Barrackpore Taxi Drivers’ association (BTDA) David Balkaran, said that the drivers will continue their action until  the Minister of Works and Transport, Franklin Khan meets with them. “Despite the many complaints to the Princes Town Regional Corporation there has been no move to repair these roads and the drivers must now enter another school year facing the same road problems,” he said. Balkaran claims that the government has been deliberately neglecting the people of the southern districts. “This is a UNC area and the present administration is refusing to help the people in this area. They prefer to use tax payers’ money to fix the roads in the PNM strong holds,” he said.

Drivers claim that the roads contain numerous land slips and huge pot holes that cause damages to the cars. They also complained that their earnings for the day are spent on car repairs. they therefore continue to struggle to send their children to school and meet their grocery bills. The southern districts consist of villages such as Mandingo Road, St Croix, Lengua, Cunjal, Jiapaulsingh, GP Road, Sankar, Trace Watson Trace, Comuto Road and Papourie Road. The people of these areas have been using the bad roads on a daily basis as they travel to and from work. While there are newly built government institutions such as the police station, schools and community centres, the roads remain a major hindrance to the flow of business in these areas. The secondary schools include the Barrackpore Senior Secondary  and Comprehensive schools, and the Barrackpore ASJA High School. There has also been an increase in businesses in these areas. Apart from the groceries and fast food outlets, there are many video clubs, parlours, restaurants, clubs and beauty shops in these areas. The taxi drivers vow to carrying their protest actions until the minister takes notice.