Public service vehicle (PSV) industry leaders are calling for urgent discussions on Bridgetown’s emergency traffic and evacuation arrangements, arguing that this week’s gridlock highlighted the need for greater stakeholder involvement and planning.
The call comes in the wake of extensive traffic diversions in the capital to facilitate rehearsals for the November 15 Remembrance Day Parade.
Chairman of the Association of Public Transport Operators (APTO) Anwar Nana and Director of Complaints and Legal Affairs for the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Craig Banfield say recent traffic disruptions underscore the importance of ensuring Bridgetown has a robust and well-co-ordinated emergency traffic management and evacuation framework.
Director of Complaints and Legal Affairs for the Alliance Owners of Public Transport Craig Banfield (File Photo)
Banfield said on Thursday that discussions involving all relevant stakeholders should begin as a matter of urgency.
However, when contacted, Communications and Public Affairs Officer Acting Inspector Ryan Brathwaite said The Barbados Police Service already has “a Bridgetown evacuation plan relative to traffic”.
He was unable to say whether the plan was developed with input from stakeholders such as representatives of the PSV sector or provide details of how it would operate during a major emergency.
The issue has gained prominence as the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) conducts a series of tsunami emergency simulation exercises across the island.
Banfield said that while the AOPT understood the importance of national celebrations and the preparations required for them, road closures and diversions associated with the Remembrance Day Parade rehearsals caused severe traffic congestion and significant inconvenience to the travelling public, particularly PSV operators.
“The resulting traffic delays were substantial, with some motorists and PSV operators reportedly taking in excess of two hours to exit the Bridgetown area,” he said.
“My concerns go beyond the inconvenience experienced during a national rehearsal. I am particularly worried about what could happen if Barbados is faced with a major emergency such as an approaching hurricane, or even more seriously, a tsunami. In such circumstances, the ability of thousands of people in Bridgetown to evacuate quickly and safely could be severely compromised if the existing road network becomes congested or inaccessible,” the APTO complaints and legal affairs director warned.
Banfield argued that Barbados could not afford to wait until disaster struck before addressing weaknesses in the current system.
He said emergency preparedness must extend beyond written procedures and include practical planning, co-ordination among agencies, clearly identified evacuation routes and measures to ensure traffic can move efficiently when lives are at risk.
“I am, therefore, appealing for meaningful discussions among all stakeholders to begin as soon as possible,” he urged.
While Nana agreed that Bridgetown would benefit from a dedicated emergency traffic management strategy, he was less concerned about the congestion experienced during this week’s rehearsals.
“With respect to the traffic we had [on Wednesday] that he [Banfield] is talking about, this basically is for the national independence celebration and that is expected. To be honest, that is not a big issue for us at this time,” he insisted.
(EJ)
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