BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has indicated that it already have security and traffic details in place for the 20th annual St. Kitts Music Festival, which is expected to attract thousands of patrons.
In just three days, the curtains of the Festival will be drawn and the Police Force will head the charge of ensuring the safety of thousands of individuals and the security of hundreds of vehicles. For some, this might seem a logistical nightmare but, according to District ‘A’ Commander Superintendent Cromwell Henry, all systems are ready to go.
Henry, who is also responsible for the Music Festival’s security detail, spoke with SKNVibes today (Jun. 20) and gave insight into what patrons could expect when they visit the Warner Park venue.
Access Control
“Patrons entering the venue would be subjected to a search of their person and whatever they are carrying. That search would be done by private security but would be supervised by the police. The purpose of the search is to enforce the prohibited and restricted items policy. Items that are prohibited are weapons of any type or anything that could be used as a weapon, and it includes licensed firearms by non-security or non-Police or non-Defence Force personnel.”
He explained that, unless suitably accredited, individuals would not be allowed to venture into the holding areas for the artistes or anywhere backstage.
“Persons who are seated in the stands, we ask that they not obstruct the walkways and the steps, but use the seating available. Those persons on the grounds would be restricted to just the areas front of the stage. So that is they would not be permitted to be in the artistes’ dressing rooms, they would not be permitted to be back of the stage unless you have appropriate accreditation.”
Crowd Control
Superintendent Henry said not only would there be security personnel be on hand for access control, but also for crowd control.
“We would have a combination of police and private security personnel on hand for crowd control purposes and access control purposes. We of course expect persons to be on their best behaviour; they could enjoy themselves but they must not offend the law in anyway. The police will be on hand to enforce the law if anyone offends it in anyway.
Traffic Restrictions
The Superintendent told SKNVibes that there are specific traffic flow and parking restrictions which would be implemented on each night of the Festival to take effect from 6:00 p.m. and would remain in place until half an hour after the show concludes.
During that period, traffic would only be allowed to flow northward along Victoria Road, southward along East Park Range and a special arrangement would be in place for Lozack Road.
“Along Lozack Road, traffic would only be allowed to travel eastwards between Hart Street and Baker’s Corner. Traffic flow would be totally restricted on the portion of Lozack Road between Victoria Road and Hart Street. There would be no traffic restriction along Taylor’s Range.”
Parking
The grounds of the Basseterre High School have been reserved for public parking, and for certain categories of persons, space within Warner Park is reserved for parking.
“Those persons who are permitted to park in Warner Park, they would know who they are because they would be carrying a vehicle access pass that permits them entry. We would - of course - reserve parking spaces for taxis and public service vehicles on the eastern side of Victoria Road between Lozack Road and American Bakery.”
Superintendent Henry indicated that Traffic Wardens and Police Officers would be on hand to provide security in the designated parking areas and also to manage the flow of traffic.
“We ask that drivers comply and cooperate with the officers on duty; comply with the signs and cooperate with the officers. Persons who violate the parking restrictions, their vehicles would be subjected to towing at their expense. And the vehicles would not be returned until the towing fees are paid.”
