‘Tight security’: RBPF reports City stores’ support for coming changes

Though businesses in and around Heroes Square in The City will be heavily affected by traffic changes for next week’s Independence and Republic celebrations, police are reporting full cooperation and understanding from merchants as strict security protocols will be in force from as early as Sunday night.

Police Public Relations Officer Acting Inspector Rodney Inniss told reporters of the changes on Wednesday as he and other members of the Royal Barbados Police Force toured several areas in and around Heroes Square to make businesses and street vendors aware of upcoming important traffic changes.

Heroes Square will be the focal point of the celebrations with the inauguration of Barbados’ first president. Charles, the Prince of Wales is expected to join Prime Minister Mottley and other CARICOM leaders to witness Barbados’ transition from a realm to a republic.

inniss said: “We basically wanted to inform them on how they will be affected as of tomorrow. Wharf Road will be closed to traffic, and Lower Broad Street traffic will be diverted along Prince William Henry Street, they will not be allowed to come to Upper Broad Street and the High Street area.

“Reason being there is infrastructure being erected in the area of Heroes Square, and obviously it will have an impact on the persons who are operating their businesses here in terms of deliveries and whatnot.”

Acting Inspector Inniss also added that further traffic changes will be implemented on Sunday night.

“What we also wanted to emphasise, is that from Sunday night no vehicles will be allowed to remain stationary or park along Marhill Street or Palmetto Square or Rickett Street or even Lower Roebuck Street,” he said.

“We are anticipating a large turnout of dignitaries for the ceremony, and we need the area to be secured and sanitized for parking and security reasons. So we were trying to get them [vendors] on board like they usually are, and the reception was really well today.” (SB)