There was gridlock in parts of Port-of-Spain yesterday as schools and some offices were closed early. This was to allow students, workers and others to leave before the scheduled 2 pm to 5.30 pm closure of the Priority Bus Route from Sea Lots, Port-of-Spain, to Orange Grove for the scheduled departure of US Vice-President Joe Biden and his entourage.
Reports are that the traffic jam began from as early as 8 am with traffic on the westbound lane of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway backing up as far as Valsayn. Traffic on the Uriah Butler Highway also ground to a halt from as far as Couva, some drivers said. Biden came to Port-of-Spain on Monday evening for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and talks with Caricom leaders. He left yesterday.
It was shortly before noon that parents were called by their children’s respective primary and secondary school asking that they pick up their children. Students from secondary schools were seen on the streets of Port-of-Spain shortly after noon. Some work places also closed their doors at lunchtime. This caused a massive traffic congestion in the city and on the routes heading east and west of the city.
Many people awaiting transport out of the city and into Port-of-Spain were left stranded. Hundreds of students and adults were seen attempting to get maxi taxis to get to the respective destinations. Some expressed their frustration saying the citizens were being inconvenienced because of the visit. But in a telephone interview yesterday evening, police public relations officer ASP Joanne Archie dismissed claims that the traffic was caused by Biden’s visit.
“We just closed a portion of Wrightson Road for ten minutes this morning to allow Biden’s entourage to pass,” Archie said. She noted there were no other interruptions imposed by the police after the ten-minute period. Archie suggested that heavy rain yesterday morning might have affected the traffic, with many drivers opting to leave home later. She also said there were two minor accidents on the Uriah Butler Highway early yesterday which might have caused the gridlock heading into Port-of-Spain.