Protests intensify in PM’s constituency

Penal: Protest action intesified today at the Penal Rock Road in the constituency of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar with as many as 15 areas along the road blocked off by debris and residents saying they disappointed with their Member of Parliament, the prime minister, for not paying attention to their concerns.

The residents restarted their protest around midnight saying the reason for this fresh action is of a statement by the prime minister yesterday that only nine of the 16 miles of the road fell in her jurisdiction.

Some residents insisted that they would "remove the prime minister from her ivory tower" because they felt that she and the councillors in the Siparia Regional Corporation have lost touch with the people.

The residents argue that the prime minister was yesterday in Debe to turn the sod for the UWI South Campus and did not see it fit to travel three miles to take first hand look aty their concerns.

At meeting last night, 300 residents decided that the time for dialogue is over and are calling on Works Minister Jack Warner to visit them, calling him the "Can-Do Minister".

They say they will only stop the protest when they see action.

It took five backhoes to clear the roads of debris.