Tear gas in Pt Fortin

The tear gas caused two women to faint, and forced them to seek medical treatment at the Point Fortin District Hospital. More than 100 heavily-armed police officers swooped down on the villages when, for the second day yesterday, villagers backed by the San Fernando/Point Fortin Taxi Drivers’ Association staged fiery demonstrations.

From as early as 5.30 am, the residents cut off the main road leading to Point Fortin, burning tyres and tonnes of debris. However, heavily-armed police officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch, Crime Suppression Unit and Riot Squad, equipped with gas masks, took up positions along the road before sunrise yesterday.

The villagers had blocked the road with fires at various points, and that sent the lawmen into a frenzy when, amid the miles of traffic, and hundreds of villagers on the street, a verbal confrontation erupted. The traffic jam extended from Point Fortin Junction to Vessigny Village, La Brea.

The demonstration had started peacefully, but degenerated into a showdown with the police. Point Fortin MP, Larry Achong, tried to placate the angry villagers who have been complaining about the dilapidated condition of the road to Point Fortin over the past two days.

During the pushing and shoving, the riot squad shot tear-gas into the air. Undaunted, the crowd responded by hurling bottles, stones and burning debris at the riot squad.

San Fernando/Point Fortin Taxi Drivers’ Association president, David John, condemned the police action as "heavy-handed." He said that villagers had already retreated to the side of the road to allow Fire Services officers to begin clearing the debris, when they fired the tear gas.

Shots were also fired into the air by the Riot Squad. A number of villagers were arrested and taken to the Point Fortin Police Station.

Achong was able to quell the angry mob when he told villagers that Works and Transport Minister, Colm Imbert, would tour the area next week Wednesday.

As Achong was leaving, however, the stone throwing started again. When Achong attempted to intervene for the second time, the former Labour Minister was verbally abused.

Schools and businesses were forced to remain closed as workers, students and teachers were left stranded. The chaotic situation forced Education Minister, Hazel Manning, to cancel a trip to the Point Fortin Anglican Primary School for the institution’s formal opening ceremony.

In a media release yesterday, the ministry stated that "due to the volatile situation," the formal opening had to be rescheduled.

The Point Fortin Chamber yesterday stated that while it did not support the residents’ action, it empathised with the situation. In a letter addressed to Imbert, the Chamber stated that in light of "the recent completion of ALNG Train IV and the NGC cross-island pipeline, no attempts have been made to date, to restore this Southern Main Road."

Petrotrin’s corporate communications manager, Arnold Corneal, said members of Trinmar’s administrative staff were prevented from reaching the company’s marine base.

Point Fortin Mayor, St Clair Natta, could not be contacted for comment.