The main road leading to St Mary’s Village, Moruga, was blocked by burning debris during a protest over bad roads yesterday.

Villagers living along Moruga Road between the villages of Cachipe and Basse Terre, blocked the road with old tyres and derelict vehicles before daybreak.

Thousands of people remained stranded, as taxi drivers also joined in the protest.

All cases at the Moruga Magistrates’ Court had to be adjourned because Magistrate Indrani Cedeno was trapped in the traffic jam caused by the protest action.

Protesters said the demonstration would continue until Government gave them a date by which roads would be repaired and repaved.

There is an ongoing restoration project along the Moruga Road that includes constructing pavements and drains and putting down water lines.

President of the Moruga Taxi Drivers’ Association, Andy Steeling, said: ’It has been two years since the work started and it is not yet completed. We want something to be done. The road is in a terrible state. The contractor did part of the road and is now telling us that the money finish so he cannot do the rest. We need some answers.’

Fire officers removed the debris from the road about two hours after the protest began, clearing the route for motorists to pass.

And around the same time, residents of Foress Park Trace in Claxton Bay blocked the road leading to their homes, demanding better roads and drainage. Desi Narine, a resident, said they would continue the protest until the authorities respond to their complaints.

’The police has been out since 1 a.m. trying to prevent us from protesting, but we want our voices to be heard and the only way is by protesting. The road is like a quarry, really bad. The drains are in terrible condition, so every time it rains we get flooded,’ he said.

The residents came out around 5 a.m. and blocked the road with debris.

’People were blocked in and could not get out. By midday the road was cleared, but we intend to do it again tomorrow (today),’ Narine said.