Rose Street now a traffic nightmare

This was the sentiment of Arima resident Michael Galera as he spoke about the traffic situation on Rose Street. Galera who lived at Rose Street for 23 years said it was as if he was born and bred there and it was such a travesty to see the state of Rose Street since traffic was diverted there.

Galera claimed the traffic re-routing by Mayor Eustace Nancis was part of a ploy to deter the traffic from its usual route and he added that there are two prep schools, a primary school and a church on Rose Street and because of the traffic situation there were a couple close calls for some school kids.

Galera also said residents constantly had to put up with abuse from maxi-taxi “touts” plying their vehicles for hire and at night-time the noise pollution was a big inconvenience. Before the traffic was redirected, Galera said Rose Street was as a “filter” street only used occasionally by motorists when there was traffic congestion on the main roads.

Galera disclosed there was a high garbage factor, since litter was often strewn along canals, over residents’ walls and onto their premises with little respect or regard for their property.

Galera’s biggest fear though ,was in the event of a funeral taking place at the church, the situation at Rose Street would amount to a catastrophe. Galera said he wrote several letters to Prime Minister Patrick Manning and the Member of Parliament for the area Pennelope Beckles, but is yet to receive a reply.

Galera vowed that residents’ next step would be to address a letter to a traffic engineer at Macoya Traffic Management Branch for the Arima district, asking for some resolve to their plight.