By Sue-Ann Wayow
CALLING people in the scrap iron industry “marauding gangs of metal thieves” Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said they are aided by the Opposition.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Dr Rowley said, “So they have made their move. Dump truckloads of sand and debris on both sides of the highway and block traffic! What a wonderful idea of leadership from (Ancel) Roget and the followers including the UNC! The marauding gangs of metal thieves threatened to, but did not complete the job of shutting down the country, so the leaders are helping them to get that done.”
From as early as 3 am persons protesting against the six-month metal export ban, burned tyres and threw sand across the Solomon Hochoy Highway. One man did a video and cautioned other drivers along the route.
Police presence was requested to remove the debris.
The protest caused long lines of traffic along the highway from as early as 5 am especially with many motorists heading north.
Since the ban was announced by Attorney General Reginald Armour on August 15, persons have come out in their numbers to protest.
The ban was announced as a means of curbing theft of cable wires, manhole covers, pumps and other forms of metal that increased recently.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers Association (TTSIDA) Allan Ferguson had said protests will continue as many persons were now on the breadline.
TTSIDA again hosted a press conference on Monday to discuss how they will deal with the situation.
Ferguson had told AZP News last week that a meeting was expected to be held on Saturday with TTSIDA’s executive to discuss the way forward.
