Chaos reigned as scores of residents of Shettlewood, Hanover
blocked the roads to protest the building of a cemetery in their community.
Early this month the residents demonstrated against the development of the cemetery, claiming that it would contaminate the community's water source.
At that time they barred personnel from the Delapenha Funeral Home from carrying out burials there.
From as early as dawn the irate residents used old vehicles, tyres, fallen trees and whatever they could salvage, to block the main road between Westmoreland and St. James.
They remain adamant that no burial must take place at the facility despite two having reportedly taken place within the last two weeks.
However, on Monday the police, who had their hands full, became frustrated with residents remounting the blockades as they cleared them and fired shots in the air several times while using tear gas randomly to disburse the irate residents.
Scores of residents from two of the 32 communities benefiting from the water supply are still converged along the roadway.
Meanwhile, the developers of the cemetery, Delapenha's Funeral Home, say tests have confirmed that the burial site poses no threat to the environment.
The managing director of the funeral home, Dale Delapenha, told RJR News that several scientific studies and investigations have been done on the property.
He says all these tests have concluded that the cemetery poses no threat to the water source in the area.
Mr. Delapenha says despite the residents' disapproval, his funeral parlour will continue to bury people at the cemetery.
Early this month the residents demonstrated against the development of the cemetery, claiming that it would contaminate the community's water source.
At that time they barred personnel from the Delapenha Funeral Home from carrying out burials there.
From as early as dawn the irate residents used old vehicles, tyres, fallen trees and whatever they could salvage, to block the main road between Westmoreland and St. James.
They remain adamant that no burial must take place at the facility despite two having reportedly taken place within the last two weeks.
However, on Monday the police, who had their hands full, became frustrated with residents remounting the blockades as they cleared them and fired shots in the air several times while using tear gas randomly to disburse the irate residents.
Scores of residents from two of the 32 communities benefiting from the water supply are still converged along the roadway.
Meanwhile, the developers of the cemetery, Delapenha's Funeral Home, say tests have confirmed that the burial site poses no threat to the environment.
The managing director of the funeral home, Dale Delapenha, told RJR News that several scientific studies and investigations have been done on the property.
He says all these tests have concluded that the cemetery poses no threat to the water source in the area.
Mr. Delapenha says despite the residents' disapproval, his funeral parlour will continue to bury people at the cemetery.