The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) has put arrangements in place to prevent traffic congestion in the City of Roseau during the staging of the 22nd Edition of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) scheduled for October 28 -30.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Davidson Valerie presented the new traffic rules and regulations during the final WCMF press conference held on Wednesday.
The main entry points for the WCMF are on Bath Road, opposite the Government Headquarters Building, for regular ticket holders, and for the VVIP on the riverside.
“A number of areas will be designated as no parking zones from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am the following morning,” he said. “There shall be no parking on either side of Valley Road from its intersection with Boyd Avenue to Bath Road.”
Valerie continued, “There shall be no parking on either side of the link road from Bath Estate Bridge to the link road bridge, north of the Windsor Park Sports Stadium.”
He added, “No parking on either side of Bath Road from its junction with Kingshill Morne Bruce Road to the Botanical Gardens south-western gate.”
Valerie made it clear that no entry will be permitted on that portion of Bath Road from its junction with Cork Street.
‘No entry will be permitted on Independence Street where it intersects with Hillsborough Street, Kennedy Avenue where it intersects with Upper Lane, River Street where it intersects with Bath Road and no entry will be permitted on the link road at the back of the stadium where it intersects with Valley Road,” he noted.
Valerie revealed that access will be granted only to owners of motor vehicles who reside within the restricted areas on Kennedy Avenue, Independence Street, Hillsborough Street, and Bath Road.
“Absolutely no double parking will be permitted on anywhere or any road in the city,” he remarked.
He went on to state that police will perform security duties in and around the area of the Windsor Park Sports Stadium to ensure that law and order is maintained.
He said there will be in place a venue operation center which will be manned by a number of senior officials from various institutions.
Valerie also made mention of a command center which will be located on the ground floor at the Clem John and Kaleb Laurent stand.
“This is to allow for patrons who require assistance from the police,” Valerie stated.
He indicated that security at the venue shall be done in three zones.
“A gazetted officer will be in charge of each zone,” he revealed. “He or she will be assisted by an inspector and a team of police officers, private securities, and volunteers.”
Valerie continued, “Search teams at the entrances have been briefed to allow only individuals with tickets or accreditations to enter through the security barriers.”
He pointed out that officers shall ensure that no prohibited items including firearms and ammunition, illegal drugs, knives, cutlasses, scissors, ice picks, cigarette lighters, and glass bottles are allowed into the venue.
Prohibited items will include firearms and ammunition, “even if the owner is a licensed firearm user.”
Therefore, he cautioned firearm users to secure their firearms “before coming to the park.”
Meanwhile, Valerie warned that vending will not be permitted from Bath Road, on Cork Street to River Street.
“Vending will not be permitted on that portion [of] Kennedy Avenue on Bath Road to Independence Street, on that portion of road on Hillsborough Street from Bath Road to Independence Street and vending will not be permitted on the stadium link road from River Street to Valley Road.”
The Assistant Commissioner made the observation that over the years the WCMF has been rather incident-free.
I didn’t know there are any traffic rules in DA. I thought it was a FREE FOR ALL. I guess the Militia has to talk to justify their miserable existence.
There is no “k” in traffic.
ADMIN: Thank you for taking the time to point that out.
We are aware, that was a typographical error.
Valerie do you require a military uniform in order to manage traffic controls?
Ebeh chu say vendors patay!
So its time for the annual rumble and is now you all informing vendors of those restrictions? What happen to all Ma-Cho-Koe chicken wings and legs that well seasoned to sell so she can pay her bills through Christmas? No man that not fair to the roadside vendors. At least you all could have told them a month ago before they undertook that expenditure.
After you all KOULAAY the festival by giving labourites free tickets they are now selling, you believe blocking the street vendors will drive to higher profits to your selected vendors within the festival walls? Boy I tell you Dca is a screwed up place. Lennox do right leave us in our misery because we too darn passive and greedy for freeness.