WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – For the second consecutive day, taxi operators who ply the Savanna-La-Mar to Grange Hill route have blocked the road and withdrawn services in protest of poor road conditions.

The protest has left several commuters stranded in Savanna-La-Mar, Burnt Savannah and Grange Hill.

Taxi operators first withdrew their services on Monday, causing chaos for commuters and scores of students from Grange Hill and Frome Technical High. The cabbies threatened to continue the strike action until they get word on the full rehabilitation of the road.

READ: WATCH: Westmoreland taxi drivers stage protest, demand full road rehabilitation

One taxi operator, who identified himself as Lawson, told OBSERVER ONLINE that the situation should not have to continue.

“We must have understanding of this situation. People have to move from one place to another. I love driving, it hurts me to stop driving. The condition is not right with the road and it can be better,” he argued.

Lawson added that the road needs to be worked on immediately.

The cabbies parked their vehicles along the Toll Gate Main Road, demanding to hear from their member of parliament, Morland Wilson.

Calls to independent member of parliament (MP) for Westmoreland Central, George Wright, who is also in charge of the space, have gone unanswered since Monday.

It is said that Wright visited the protest late Monday. However, the cabbies argue that he did not say anything of substance.

“Garbage, that’s all he came with. Talking about what who did when they were in power for 18 years,” one cabbie reasoned.

There has been a high police/military presence in the space.

– Kimberley Peddie