Head of Traffic Department outlines police plans to manage parade and jump-up routes and shares tips for vehicle safety

The Traffic Department is outlining its Traffic Management Plan, as
well as the parade routes for this weekend into early next week,
when the curtains come down on the summer festival.

Superintendent of Police Elson Quammie, who heads the
Department, says the routes for Carnival Monday and Tuesday and
for Jou’vert Morning will be secured at the earliest possible time,
and motorists are warned against parking along the routes on these
days.

For the Carnival Monday Parade and Jou’vert, traffic cones and
barricades will be in place, he says. But there will be two Jou’vert
Morning routes – one for the large bands or the jam bands and the
other for steelbands and smaller bands.

The morning jam gets underway at 3 a.m., beginning at the
roundabout outside the Antigua Recreation Grounds and
Government House and onto Independence Drive, Vivian Richards
Street, Market Street and Redcliffe Street; then a right turn onto
Thames Street, up High Street, and back onto Independence Drive,
Coronation Road, and down Factory Road.
This rotation will be followed until the event ends at 10 a.m.

Quammie says that parking will be regulated around the Antigua
Recreation Grounds (Carnival City), as well. 

The Traffic Department head says that persons should abide by the
law to avoid unnecessary charges, adding that there is already a
general penalty for those who breach them.

Meanwhile, the Police are appealing to persons who intend to drink
alcohol to have a designated driver. As a matter of fact, Quammie
says, the Police are promoting car-pooling during this year’s festival.
This not only ensures there is a designated driver, but it will help to
ease the congestion in the city.

Further, he advises Carnival patrons to park in well-lit areas and
secure their vehicles, making sure nothing of value is exposed and
preventing unnecessary break-ins.

Quammie is encouraging everyone to enjoy themselves this
weekend, but in a safe and peaceful manner, respecting each other.
The Police will be assisted by members of the Antigua and Barbuda
Defence Force and other law-enforcement agencies, he says.