Click to view full size
Former commissioner of police Gary Griffith has attributed the severe traffic congestion in and around Chaguaramas following the “Stink n Dutty” fete to a lack of leadership, planning and operational management, rather than failures by fete promoters or rank-and-file police officers. Griffith said concerns raised by residents and the business community were understandable but argued that many patrons reported seeing few police officers stationed at known bottleneck areas, along with an apparent absence of senior supervisory ranks directing traffic during critical periods.
He added that enforcement appeared to dissipate once the event ended, despite hundreds of motorists continuing to exit the area well into the following afternoon. Griffith said the situation was particularly disappointing given that fetes have taken place in Chaguaramas for decades and that large crowds can be managed effectively with proper leadership, coordination and evidence-based traffic planning.
He said such events can benefit businesses through increased patronage if effective management systems are implemented. Drawing on his tenure as commissioner of police, Griffith said traffic management for major events was never left to chance and relied on advance analytical assessments to identify historical gridlock points along the Western Main Road and surrounding areas.
The portable companion to gazettE. Get notifications, track read articles, and more. The latest news from Trinidad and Tobago, in one place.
Related stories
See articles related to "Griffith blames leadership failures for Carenage traffic chaos"