Santa Cruz and Trinidad commuters finally received a reprieve after a 10-day roadblock on the San Pablo bridge route to Beni was lifted yesterday evening. However, the tension remains as the protesters from San Andres warn of renewed roadblocks if their demands aren’t met.
Fuel Station Dispute at the Heart of the Roadblocks: At the core of the protest lies the demand for a local fuel station in the San Andrés municipality. One of the protesters explained, “There’s a commitment from Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) to potentially sign an agreement with the Municipal Government of San Andrés for the construction of a gas station by June 5th.”
Travel Advisory: With the blockade lifted, the next week will be crucial. If an agreement regarding the fuel station isn’t signed by the deadline, Santa Cruz-Beni travel could be disrupted once again.