Cars block the road on the Sandy Ground side of the bridge during the Wednesday morning protest. (Photo Robert Luckock)
MARIGOT—The main road on the Sandy Ground side of the bridge has been blocked with cars and other obstacles as residents are reportedly protesting slow pace of reconstruction, the homeless situation, poverty and the high cost of living, among other issues.
The blockade was installed as early as last night at 10:00pm, one resident said. The protest has so far been peaceful. The Territorial Police closed access to the bridge from the tourism office roundabout side. Gendarmes and Police have been monitoring the situation.
A delegation from Sandy Ground comprising district council representative Cedric Andre is in a meeting with President Daniel Gibbs and Préfète Sylvie Feucher. The outcome of that meeting is expected later.
For now, the Gendarmerie is advising motorists to avoid Sandy Ground until the blockade is lifted. It’s not clear who is behind the protest, but one resident said it was a spontaneous uprising by the people of Sandy Ground expressing their frustration at government.
“This is organised by everybody in Sandy Ground,” a resident told The Daily Herald. “We’ve had enough of what’s going on. Here in Sandy Ground we have generations of people here going back 20, 40, 50 years ago. They’ve seen their kids born here and grand-children. There are people here who have lost everything in the hurricane as well as family members. We are still trying to get our lives back together and rebuild.
“But you have all this bureaucracy and red tape. You can’t do this, you can’t do that. What do you expect the people to do? It’s not just about land but people are losing their livelihoods. The cost of living is one thing. Take this man here; a grandfather. He has worked all his life with two or three jobs and made enough to build a house.
“Now 30 years later the government comes to him and says he doesn’t own it and he has no rights. Come on. These are people who have been here all their lives and it’s all they know. You can’t take it away from them. Their home is their life. We’ve been hearing about this regulation for titles forever, but nothing is happening.”
Another resident said: “If it’s for metropolitans in Orient Bay and opening their restaurants everything goes quickly. But Pedro’s and other local places can’t open back. Pedro’s has been on Orient Beach before everyone else and they can’t give
him a spot. This BS has to stop. Look at Sandy Ground from the Bridge towards Baie Nettle, there are still homes without roofs 15 months after Irma. But everywhere else things are back on line. We pay taxes too so why are not being looked after? I’m ashamed the protest has come to this, but it is the reality.”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/83801-blockade-in-sandy-ground-as-residents-protest-over-numerous-living-issues
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