PORT MARIA, St Mary — With some cabbies in St Mary opting to work while their peers withdrew their services in protest, the impact on the educational sector within the parish varied on Monday.

In a WhatsApp message, St Mary Technical High School Principal Orville Richards told parents the strike in sections of the transportation sector had forced a major change in the school’s operations.

“In light of the uncertainty in the public transportation sector we are experiencing low student turnout. All examinations scheduled for today have been postponed,” he advised.

He also announced that school activities would end at 11:30 am to ensure students got home safely, and encouraged parents to monitor the situation as the school continues to be guided by the Ministry of Education.

It was a similar situation at Horace Clarke High School where exams were rescheduled for Wednesday, June 12.

In contrast, St Mary High School Principal Jullett Sadaar advised parents that it was business as usual for them.

There were also no issues at Oracabessa Primary.

“We are not experiencing any challenges; we have good student and teacher attendance,” Principal Winsome McFarlane told the Jamaica Observer.

On the streets, it was also a mixed bag.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Joseph Foster, taxi operators aired their grouses to cops who responded to a protest in Oracabessa, but there were no significant incidents.

“The protest has been peaceful so far, nothing major. The taxi operators just used their bodies and some logs to block the road, which had minimal effect on traffic,” he stated.

He added that cabbies have vowed to continue their protest on Tuesday.

On Monday, commuters on the Annotto Bay to Port Maria routes were among those affected by some cabbies’ refusal to work. Some passengers complained of exorbitant fares being charged.

“The taxi man dem want charge $2,000 to come a country,” said one passenger who journeyed from Half-Way-Tree to Annotto Bay.

The fare is usually $300 by bus and $600 by taxi but on Monday there were no buses or cabs available.

However, not every transport operator was in favour of the strike. One cabbie, who identified himself as Ryan and who was still serving the Islington to Annotto Bay route, told the Observer that while he’s in solidarity with his fellow operators he opted not to join the protest as he has “a target to reach by August”.

“I have to reach a certain amount; furthermore, I have my school pickney dem to pick up,” he said of scheduled jobs.

Albert Johnson, who plies the Islington to Port Maria route, was also on the job as he did not wish to make life difficult for his loyal clients.

“Withdrawing our services will not in any way solve anything. We need to have dialogue to find a solution. And because of our faults we are going to [inconvenience] our customers? Nonsense! I am in solidarity with my fellow taxi operators that we want to see change but we are going about it the wrong way,” he said.