Commuters Forcibly Removed From PPVs Not Involved In Protest
By Prince Moore There have been reports of some taxi operators in Montego Bay, St. James removing passengers from public passenger vehicles (PPVs) that are not participating in the protest to demand a traffic ticket amnesty. The protest by some taxi operators had been obstructing traffic in a section of Montego Bay until the police intervened. Superintendent Eron Samuels, head of Operations in St. James, addressed the taxi operators, telling them he did not have a problem with them withdrawing their service, but he would «not allow [them] to obstruct traffic or block the road». Radio Jamaica News was informed that commuters were also forcibly removed from PPVs in the Corporate Area and Spanish Town by protesting transport operators. Detained Superintendent Hopton Nicholson, Operations Officer for the St. Catherine South Division, said two transport operators in Portmore were detained for obstructing traffic. He said the operators were taken to the police station and would be interviewed «in short order». But he noted that the overall protest in Portmore has been peaceful. Chaos in May Pen In Clarendon, there were chaotic scenes in the May Pen town centre on Monday morning as scores of taxi operators used their vehicles to block the roadway. The taxi operators were seen playing loud music while drinking and smoking. Mayor of May Pen Winston Maragh was also forced to find an alternative route to get to his office.
