Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

Attempts at fiery street protests fizzled yesterday as quick action by members of the security forces, the fire brigade and the National Solid Waste Management Authority kept roads clear and forced demonstrators into hiding.

The Gleaner received the first reports of protests shortly after six yesterday morning when burning debris was seen on Mandela Highway in the vicinity of Central Village, affecting motorists heading towards the Corporate Area.

No protesters were seen and the security forces were quick to extinguish the blaze and clear the roadway.

Hours later, another blockade was established on the other side of the Mandela Highway, affecting motorists heading towards Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Roadblocks quickly cleared

As police and military teams attempted to clear that blockade, other members of the security forces rushed to Washington Boulevard where roadblocks had been established.

These were quickly cleared and the security forces turned their attention to the nearby Molynes Road where an old car had been set on fire and several blockades erected.

It did not take the security teams long to clear that road, even though they had to wait for firefighters to put out a blaze metres from a derelict building which had been looted and destroyed during the 1999 gas riots.

The adjoining West Main Drive was also blocked in several areas, while the police reported that roads were also temporarily blocked in sections of South East St Andrew, Portmore and St Johns Road, St Catherine, and Three Miles in St Andrew.

On West Main Drive in Maverley, residents stood quietly as police cleared the roadblocks with no one claiming responsibility.

Placing blame

However, councillor for the area, Audley Gordon, was adamant about who were behind the protest.

"A handful of criminals from a PNP (People's National Party) stronghold are to blame," claimed Gordon, who represents the Jamaica Labour Party in the Hughenden division in North West St Andrew. Later, however, PNP President Portia Simpson Miller stressed, while speaking with The Gleaner, that the party had nothing to do with the street protests.

"We were not surprised by it. We heard from Sunday that something was being organised. To be honest, we were expecting it yesterday morning but as you can see the police are out, the soldiers are out and the leadership of the constituency is out and there is not much, or no support from the residents," Gordon added.

The councillor's claim that criminals were behind the protests was given credence when an obviously frightened motorist showed The Gleaner her broken windshield which had been hit by thugs who stole her jewellery and cellular phone.

The police later reported that seven persons had been taken into custody in connection with the roadblocks. At least six of those persons were charged for breaches of the Anti-Litter Act.