Disgruntled driver chides Traffic Department
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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Fort Street, Basseterre
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Basseterre, St. Kitts: A disgruntled driver has criticized the Traffic Department for not putting the appropriate infrastructure and measures in place to regulate and enforce parking restrictions on Fort Street.
Earlier today, SKNVibes was approached by the obviously peeved and perturbed driver who explained that he parked his vehicle in the vicinity of Island Rhythms, formally known as BET Sound Stage (on the western side of the road) when, just minutes after, he was informed that he was being ticketed.
Several weeks ago, Cabinet, via a post cabinet briefing, informed that parking on Fort Street would be restricted to the eastern side of the road during the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. for 30- minute intervals.
The driver explained that while he was somewhat aware of the fact that there was some sort of parking restriction imposed for the Fort Street area, owing to the CWC games held in St. Kitts earlier this year, the signs currently mounted in the area need to reflect the change endorsed by Cabinet.
“I know that for CWC, no parking was allowed on Fort Street but some time ago, Minister Nigel Carty in the post cabinet briefing, said that Cabinet approved for there to be parking on Fort Street but with some restrictions. The area where I parked today, I parked there before and I never got a ticket. ~~Adz:Right~~
I was surprised to find out today that people are not allowed to park on the western side of the road. While I know that there are ‘no parking” signs on Fort Street, I know that since those were erected, the parking restrictions have changed. The signs should reflect the changes,” the man explained.
“I am asking for the Traffic Department to do something about it so that other people would not make the same mistake that I did,” the disgruntled driver said.
He explained, however, that he has no problem whatsoever paying the ticket which he was issued for “failing to comply with traffic signs.”
SKNVibes spoke to Public Relations Officer for the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Inspector Cromwell Henry, and asked him about the current situation with regards to parking on Fort Street. He explained that not-withstanding the signage erected at Fort Street, persons are reminded that parking is allowed on the eastern side of the road for 30-minute intervals from 7:00 am to 7:00 p.m.
“The 30-minute parking is designed to ensure that only drivers who are making short stops, use that side of Fort Street. Persons who intend to park long term should not park on Fort Street,” he said.
Henry explained that, with regards to the monitoring of motorists who park on Fort Street and the prescribed time limit, assigned officers will be patrolling the Fort Street area. He took the opportunity also to call upon motorists to exercise civic responsibility in complying with the restrictions.
