Law enforcement officials here say they plan on having a non-tolerance policy towards crime during the hosting of the 18th edition of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) now less than two weeks away.
The WCMF will be hosted at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium from October 24 to 26, 2014.
“This year the police will develop a robust operational strategy and that is going to be enhanced with a non-tolerance policy which will be effected by establishing and implementing an uncompromising security measure throughout the festival,” Superintendent of Police David Andrew stated during a press conference at the Dominica Festivals Committee (DFC) on Tuesday morning.
“We will seek to reduce the probability of any critical incident through a well thought out contingency plan,” he continued. “The police, as the premier law enforcement agency in the country, have the awesome task to ensure safety and security during this WCMF. In other to achieve its objective, among other things, it must disseminate information through this medium as well as to solicit the corporation of all to support us in our endeavors.”
On the nights of the festival, Andrew said, patrons will purchase their tickets at the ticket booth and then proceed to the entry gate where they will be searched, and if the police are satisfied, they will be given arm bands to proceed into the stadium.
Weapons including licensed firearms, metal cutleries, nail files and the like will not be allowed into the venue. Smoking will not be allowed, as well as unauthorized vending.
Owners of motor vehicles and homes must ensure that they follow safety procedures, such as refraining from keeping valuables in plain view in their motor vehicles and informing a neighbor of their whereabouts, including how they plan on leaving their homes, such as with all the lights off or on, according to the Andrew.
Meantime Assistant Superintendent of Police Richmond Valentine, who will deal with traffic during the WCMF said, “traffic management has been and will continue to be an essential element in our operation as we manage WCMF.”
“From October last year, according to the statistics, we have seen in excess of a 1,300 vehicles registered in Dominica and I am almost certain a significant percentage will converge in Roseau on those three days of the WCMF,” he said.
The following are the traffic guidelines for the WCMF.
No Parking will be allowed:
On either sides of valley road to the intersection of bath road to the Bath Estate Bridge, on either sides of Boyd’s Avenue from where it intersects to bath road and the Public Service Union building, on both sides of the link road, bath road, the junction to Kingshill to the western gate of the Botanical Gardens.
One lane parking will be allowed:
On the western side of Independent Street, from the junction of River Street to Bath Road, on the western side of Bath Road from the Gardens south western gate to Cork Street, on the northern side of King George the 5th street, from Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard to Bath Road, on the western side of Great George street from King George the 5th street to River bank.
On the northern side of Hillsborough street from Bath Road to the Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard, on the southern side of Cork Street from Bath Road to the Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard, on the northern side of River Street from its junction with Bath Road to Old Street, on the western side of Victoria street from Sukie’s gas station to the roundabout near Fort Young Hotel and on the northern side of Federation Drive from Goodwill road to the hospital to the roundabout.
Parking will be allowed:
On the northern and southern sides of Rose Street.
No Entry will be allowed:
On Bath Road from its junction to Cork Street, Kennedy Avenue where it intersects with Independence Street.
This is done to facilitate patrons of the festival, and to assist if there is an emergency.
Vending will not be allowed from Bath Road to Cork Street to Victoria Street to the link road, Kennedy Avenue to Bath road to Independence Street, Hillsborough Street to from Bath Road to Independence Street and from River Street to Valley Road.
The police are calling on the general public to adhere to the traffic arrangements.
but how valantine reach assistant suprintendent there nah?
0 tolerence for who the police want the rest is history. there was 0 tolerence for cricket n a top laboruite according to “the book of Pauls” didi not adhere to the 0 tolerence……so stupes
what about zero tolerance on EBOLA
Well, crime certainly does run rampant the rest of the time.
keep the darn festival at bay. our health is more important. all the sweat rubbing up on everybody. i not in dat
It seems to me that every time there is some national event the Police seems to want to adopt a zero tolerance approach to crime. Should that not be at the core of what the Police is all about.
These comments during Carnival, Christmas, Independence and any other big fete suggests to me that outside these times the Police are in hibernation when it comes to crime fighting and the zero tolerance that they utter about.
Taking a zero tolerance approach should be paramount year round coupled with the intention of weeding out the corruption which has blighted the Dominica Police force for a few years now.
Enough talk and more action please. It is time you guys started giving Dominicans value for money in the Safety and Security department. The people of this country deserves this from the Police.
zero tolerance for crime should be every day guys . yhat is your oath
all still not getting salary increase lol play politics still. haha 0. 0. 0% tolorance for crime and also increase in salary lol
bunch of jokers, bunch of jokers bunch of jokers. integrity and credibility should be your strength . you all have double standards especially when the law breakers are within your ranks and you protect law breaking prominent citizens and other persons with status.
I want zéro tolerance on the malkassey police who does try to make their women pass in the gates and them government officials who does want there women to enter through the exit gates
This festive season just needs to be banned…..set of BS…..people coming from so many island.who will knows who as contracted ebola…..smdh…..
Now let me ask if is only at action time we hearing about this zero tolerance, what is the tolerance level when there is no fete? It must be really high that is why so much criminal activity going on in little Dominica!
This festive season just needs to be banned…..set of BS…..people coming from so many island.who will knows who as contracted ebola…..smdh…..
Will there be signs posted on those streets?
I remember going the wrong way in Roseau and this plain police officer was upset at me for doing that, but there was not a sign in sight to indicate the direction of traffic.
EXACTLY! All the money they get from registering the 1,300 vehicles can be used to create proper street signs. Not just for tourists but locals alike. And then idiot police expect you to know where not to park or drive. want to be more vex than you with their lack of manners or people skills.
I wish you would have the same Zero tolerance applied on the all the bad Cops; causing us good cops to bow our head in shame!
that pledge should not be only for festival. It should be year round and everywhere. As a matter of fact it should be what drives the police. Zero tolerance for crime and effective enforcement of the laws.
I wish Dominica a peaceful independence celebration.
The implementation of “0” tolerance on a continuous basis can create the semblance of a police state. Granted, we already have that in Dca
but we cant create that environment since the over-regulation of a society can be a recipe for disaster fueled by rage and anger. While “0” tolerance may sound nice, police must temper their actions during any such policy enforcement hence we will live to regret the very actions that were applauded in the conceptual stage. However, Change Is A MUST!
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
what our cops should do.
1)Find the dealers of the 160 million $ bust .
2) Search and find Ebola
Lol