“I want to categorically, unequivocally, emphatically deny any prior knowledge of or any knowledge of or involvement in this activity.”

That was the response by leader of the Joint Trade Union Movement, Ancel Roget, after Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley pointed fingers at him and the Opposition United National Congress, alleging both leaders were the fuel behind  Monday’s protest in which  scrap iron  workers blocked the north bound lane of the Solomon Hochoy Highway from as early as 4am.

“Dump truckloads of sand and debris on both sides of the highway and block traffic! What a wonderful idea of leadership from Roget and the followers, including the UNC! The marauding gangs of metal thieves threatened to, but did not complete the job of shutting down the country, so the leaders are helping them to get that done,” Prime Minister Rowley shared in a Facebook post.

Monday’s protest came as the workers were not granted their request  to meet with the prime minister over the six month ban on scrap iron exports.

While the JTUM leader publicly voiced support for the plight of the scrap iron workers last week, Roget said neither he nor the union had anything to do with the blocking of the Solomon Hochoy Highway “by whosoever”.

He told a virtual media conference that the matter is “currently in the hands of our attorneys”, promising that within the “next 24-48 hours action is going to be taken, legal action is going to commence as a result of this very defamatory statement.”