Persons constructing barriers out East (5)
I believe the answer is:
dames
'persons' is the definition.
(dame is a kind of person)
'barriers out east' is the wordplay.
'barriers' becomes 'dams' (dam is a kind of barrier).
'out' is an insertion indicator.
'east' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'dams' going around 'e' is 'DAMES'.
'constructing' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. It may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dames that I've seen before include "Women (US sl.)" , "Knighted or slangy women" , "Pantomime men as women" , "English ladies - American women" , "Honoured women" .)