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Up to 8:30 this morning, the Central Village community in St Catherine, Jamaica, was still tense after the St. Catherine South Police thwarted what some residents say was a protest against the recently announced tax on "critical items."
A number of residents from the area were on the streets from as early as 5:30 a.m., throwing tyres on the busy Nelson Mandela Highway and setting them on fire.
However the police drawn from Central Village and Portmore cleared the blockage and are still maintaining a presence in the area.
According to operations officer of St Catherine South, Deputy Superintendent Clive Blair, the police will be mobilising their efforts to bring normality to the situation.
"We will be on the ground as long as it is necessary to allow free passage," the police officer said.
Residents from the community said a message needed to be sent to the authorities, as they are dissatisfied with the recent taxation of several critical items.
The Duhaney Park Police also confirmed a report that minutes before 8 a.m., protesters in that area had blocked sections of Washington
Boulevard and set tyres on fire.
The protesters, like those along Nelson Mandela Highway earlier, were protesting against the new tax measures.
Just last week Prime Minister Bruce Golding urged the country to remain calm as the government announced its tax package which saw $8.75 being imposed on each litre of gas as of yesterday.
Other taxed items under the new tax package announced in the 2009-2010 Budget includes GCT of 16.5 per cent being applied to salt, rolled oats, syrup, cock and fish noodle soup.
A number of residents from the area were on the streets from as early as 5:30 a.m., throwing tyres on the busy Nelson Mandela Highway and setting them on fire.
However the police drawn from Central Village and Portmore cleared the blockage and are still maintaining a presence in the area.
According to operations officer of St Catherine South, Deputy Superintendent Clive Blair, the police will be mobilising their efforts to bring normality to the situation.
"We will be on the ground as long as it is necessary to allow free passage," the police officer said.
Residents from the community said a message needed to be sent to the authorities, as they are dissatisfied with the recent taxation of several critical items.
The Duhaney Park Police also confirmed a report that minutes before 8 a.m., protesters in that area had blocked sections of Washington
Boulevard and set tyres on fire.
The protesters, like those along Nelson Mandela Highway earlier, were protesting against the new tax measures.
Just last week Prime Minister Bruce Golding urged the country to remain calm as the government announced its tax package which saw $8.75 being imposed on each litre of gas as of yesterday.
Other taxed items under the new tax package announced in the 2009-2010 Budget includes GCT of 16.5 per cent being applied to salt, rolled oats, syrup, cock and fish noodle soup.