Traffic study planned after gridlock forces school shutdown

A traffic management plan is being developed for the area surrounding Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School on Government Hill following days of gridlock that led to classroom closures on Monday and Tuesday, said officials, pledging both short- and long-term solutions to ease congestion and ensure safety.

Deputy Chief Education Officer with responsibility for schools, Julia Beckles, told Barbados TODAY that the study would form part of a broader traffic management plan following a high-level meeting held on Wednesday morning.

The session, which brought together officials from the Ministry of Education, the Barbados Police Service, and the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), was convened at the school around 9 a.m. to address worsening gridlock and related safety concerns.

Beckles said: “The Ministry of Educational Transformation was represented by two officers. There was personnel from the Barbados Police Service, from the traffic division. We had the PTA president involved in that meeting as well, along with the chair of the health and safety committee of the school.”

She explained that the discussion focused on identifying short- and long-term measures to tackle the persistent congestion outside the school gates during drop-off and pick-up periods.

“There were some recommendations that were made and, of course, one of the main recommendations is that parents be involved and that parents be spoken to about their contribution and their role in relieving the traffic congestion,” Beckles said.

She reported that there was “some improvement” in the traffic flow on Wednesday morning, although challenges remained.

“I’m told that there was some improvement this morning — of course, not perfect — but what we are calling for is just for people to cooperate,” she added. “It will take a bit more time to develop additional solutions, as some of them are going to involve a traffic study… and anything that happens at the school must be part of a wider traffic management plan. So there will be some long-term solutions, but in the short term, we are advocating compassion, understanding, and for everybody just to cooperate.”

Police confirmed that two officers visited the school to speak with the principal about traffic management.

After closing the school early on Monday, Principal Paula Toppin issued a letter to parents on Tuesday, announcing new rules aimed at reducing congestion at the school’s entrance and exit. She explained that the closure of the school that day was to allow teachers to meet with ministry officials to “voice staff concerns about the traffic issues in and around the school.”

Effective Wednesday, the new measures require that the layby be used only for drop-off and pick-up, not for parking; that parents use the designated waiting area outside the security station when conducting school business; and that all directives issued by security personnel are followed.

When Barbados TODAY visited the school on Wednesday morning, traffic in the area was notably lighter than in previous days. However, several parents expressed frustration about ongoing parking issues and what they described as growing disrespect towards teachers.

One parent argued that a lack of enforcement was compounding the problem.

“For the traffic congestion to be curbed or improved, I think you need a security officer or a traffic warden down on the hill, because there’s one way in, one way out,” the parent said. “It’s a two-lane road, but people park on the left lane coming in, even for dropping off children… that’s what’s creating the problem, morning and evening.”

The parent described the congestion as “mayhem” at its worst and condemned recent incidents in which a teacher was confronted by a parent.

“Teachers are the caregivers and teachers shouldn’t be disrespected,” the parent said. “I applaud the teachers for taking the stance where they came together and voiced their rights and even took action, because people are getting out of control… society keeps decaying all the time.”

Another parent said the situation remained “very, very ridiculous”: “Put them (the children) at the bottom of the hill and let them walk up.”

She too called for a stronger police presence to manage traffic and restore order.

(SZB)