New traffic rules cause

Several businesses and residents of Woodbrook were seriously affected by the new traffic regulations employed around the Queen’s Park Oval for the India vs West Indies One Day International.

Parking restrictions were en-forced along several streets, called the “Yellow Zone” around the Oval including St Clair Avenue, Sweet Briar Road, Alcazar Street, Roberts Street and Tragarete Road.

Donna Blanc, employee of Trinidad Trophies Ltd, Tragarete Road, was seen arguing with police officers because the officers refused to allow her customers entry onto the street to collect their goods. She told Newsday the traffic arrangements had slowed down business since her customers with vehicles had to park several streets away from the business on Tragarete Road and walk to the store. She said although the store normally provided parking on its compound for customers, police officers prevented them from passing the barricade set up at the corner of Alexandra Street. Blanc said some customers had to physically carry bags of goods to their vehicles parked several streets away. She told Newsday this was the first time the business was affected to “such a point” by a cricket match.

Ronnie Howard, resident of Woodbrook, told Newsday his 11-year-old son left for school at 7 am and would normally take about 30 minutes to get to Blackmans Preparatory School in Maraval. His son, who had to write the National Exam for primary school students yesterday, did not get to school until 9 am because of the traffic congestion.

A billing auditor of the St Clair Medical Complex spotted walking east along Tragarete Road just at the front of Kidsworld told Newsday she thought the regulations were “ridiculous” since she had to walk from St Clair Avenue, down Elizabeth Street, then down Tragarete Road in hot weather and was unsure of where she could get a taxi to take her into Port-of-Spain. “I do not think they really thought about commuters,” she said.

The normally bustling Kidsworld was void of customers at about 2 pm yesterday. Employees said business was slow since the traffic regulations had “inconvenienced” customers. Roma Rambharose, Customer Service Representative, told Newsday, she had not expected the store to “be so dead.” She said this was the first time so many roads were blocked off around the Oval for a cricket match. Rambharose said she had to drop off at Alfredo Street and walk to work. The store was subsequently closed early.

Several taxi drivers told Newsday they were in total disagreement with the new regulations. One taxi driver said he took almost 45 minutes from Port-of-Spain to St James during the “peak hours” of 7 am to 9 am.

A police officer at the corner of Tragarete Road and Alexandra Street said drivers were “aggravated” by the regulations and were generally “uncooperative.” He said many drivers parked their vehicles in the “yellow zones” and their vehicles were subsequently wreck-ed. He said he endured a day of “verbal abuse” and “ignorant drivers” but was generally successful at keeping the traffic moving.