Traffic backlash grows as UWP candidate Marcella Johnson challenges new Gros Islet restrictions
GROS ISLET, St Lucia — United Workers Party candidate for Gros Islet Marcella Johnson has joined frustrated motorists in demanding the immediate removal of two controversial “No Right Turn” signs recently installed at the Corinth back road intersection along the Gros Islet Highway.
Johnson said the decision, implemented without consultation or public awareness, blindsided drivers on Wednesday morning, leaving many confused and angry as traffic delays worsened.
“This development makes no sense and forces one to question what is happening in this country,” Johnson told reporters. “To impose a No Right Turn here will certainly compound the problem of traffic congestion.”
Commuters caught off guard
The Corinth junction is widely used by motorists seeking relief from chronic gridlock on the Castries–Gros Islet Highway. Drivers who attempted to turn on Wednesday were met with the new restrictions, which have quickly become a flashpoint for commuter dissatisfaction.
According to Johnson, the move reflected poor governance and a lack of consideration for minibus drivers and daily road users.
“I cannot imagine that the current MP would allow for this to be imposed without any public sensitization and, more importantly, consultation with minibus drivers and all motorists,” she said. “There should be an immediate recall of this No Right Turn sign pending further consultation.”
Broader concerns about congestion
The United Workers Party candidate for Gros Islet said the decision also highlighted deeper problems linked to what she described as the government’s failure to address the worsening traffic crisis on the northern corridor.
Marcella Johnson argued that the unfinished Rodney Bay Road Project, which was left incomplete under the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) administration, has only intensified congestion.
Her stance on the traffic restrictions mirrors a pattern of public criticism of the government. She has previously condemned the administration over escalating crime in Gros Islet, arguing that residents were being left vulnerable by ineffective leadership.
She has also challenged the government on national development priorities, including the Global Ports Holding (GPH) asset deal, which she said placed Saint Lucians at a disadvantage and reflected misplaced priorities.
Marcella Johnson insisted that the government’s latest traffic measure shows a lack of foresight. “What we face now is the direct result of their inaction,” she said, pledging that the UWP, once in government, would immediately complete the highway redevelopment and improve secondary back roads that serve as vital traffic alternatives.
The candidate reiterated her call for an immediate recall of the signs as a first step toward restoring order while government authorities pursue genuine consultation and long-term infrastructure solutions.
Her comments reflect the UWP’s campaign narrative that the administration is not putting people first in its policy decisions. With traffic congestion continuing to dominate public debate in Gros Islet, the issue has emerged as a key battleground ahead of the next general election.
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