(All parked in Cenotaph Square, Port Antonio)
The public passenger transport system ground to a halt Monday morning in large parts of Portland when taxi and bus operators withdrew their services on major routes fanning out from Port Antonio.
The protests led to many students walking to school and people being late for work.
The operators were protesting against what they said were imminent moves by the Transport Authority and the Island Traffic Authority to implement a points loss system against their licences. They said the proposals would mean many would lose their licences and livelihoods.
Routes from Port Antonio going east to communities such as Manchioneal, Long Road, Boston and Hector’s River as well as hill communities were affected.
(Police officers keeping an eye on the protest)
Also impacted were routes going west to Hope Bay and Buff Bay in the parish as well as further to St Mary.
Few taxis were operating in the morning from Port Antonio, the capital, and two drivers told the North Coast Times that they were warned to get off the road.
Police were on hand around Port Antonio where many operators parked their vehicles on the streets and sidewalks and around Cenotaph Square.
