MONTEGO BAY, St James – Scores of people yesterday mounted roadblocks on Barnett Street and Fustic Lane to protest against the hike in taxi fares, petroleum products and utility rates.

The placard-bearing demonstrators, mostly from Railway and Barnett Lanes, but including passers-by, also set fire to the debris they used to block the roads.

One of the protestors, who gave her name only as Tasha and who resides at Barnett Lane, said some parents will not be able to afford the increased taxi fares.

“Last year, some people were not able to send their children to school everyday. Most of the children are sent to schools like Anchovy and Maldon (High Schools), which are far distances from where they live. Most of them last term were unable to go to school for five days because they could not afford the bus fare every day. When they can do without lunch they have to pay the fare,” said the woman.

The roadblocks, which were mounted at about 7:00 am, were cleared by the police at about 9:30, with assistance from the St James Fire Department.

North West St James member of parliament Dr Horace Chang, a deputy leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, who was sympathetic to the demonstrators, suggested that the government allow a duty concessions on motor vehicles for taxi operators, which he said would allow the cabbies to operate at a lower cost.

“I think taxi operators have reached a distressed state. With the rapid increase in fuel prices and the rough roads that the taxi men have to traverse, the situation with transport is getting worse. I think that the suggestion on concession should be looked at,” Dr Chang told the Observer.

Last month, president of the St James Taxi Association Dion Chance asked Finance Minister Omar Davies to grant his members motor vehicle duty concessions similar to those enjoyed by operators in the tourist transport business.