Portland residents protest
Published:Thursday | March 19, 2009 | 12:37 PM
The police in Portland are experiencing difficulties to clear a road block which was mounted by residents of Drapers Heights early this morning.
The residents are protesting over the absence of pipe water in that community.
From as early as 4 a.m. the residents used stones, tree and other debris to block more than 1000 meters of roadway.
The blockage also left students and teachers from various schools including Happy Grove High, Titchfield, Fair prospect, and Port Antonio High, stranded for several hours.
A short while ago, the National Water Commission (NWC) dispatched a water truck to the area, but residents have refused to accept the water, claiming it’s unclean.
Earlier a resident who spoke with our Portland correspondent said the community has been without water for several years.
Deputy Mayor for Port Antonio, Derron Wood, said contact has been made with the National Water Commission on the issue.
The National Water Commission said service at the Drapers Relift station in Portland will resume later today after technical works are completed at the property.
The NWC said it will continue to truck water to the affected areas until tap water is restored.