With five Caribbean Premier League (CPL) matches scheduled to start at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy from Wednesday, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is assuring the public that its security and traffic plans are in place to deal with any eventuality.
The Trinbago Knight Riders will play its first of five home matches for the Caribbean Premier League at the Brian Lara Stadium on Wednesday and Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Mystar is assuring that all safety and security measures are in place for the thousands of patrons expected to attend the matches.
“We would have identified and prepared for a range of scenarios, including crimes against persons, public disturbances or riots, acts of terrorism or disruptive activities, medical emergencies and natural disasters, road traffic incidents, firearm-related incidents.”
He said the Police Service will have personnel inside and outside the stadium.
“The TTPS will deploy specialised units within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, peace officers, traffic management teams from the Southern Division and from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch, crowd management personnel, crime detection units, CCTV, and air surveillance.”
ACP Mystar said the Police Service is also taking a proactive approach to traffic management, especially after the end of each game.
“Five minutes before the game is over, that whole Tarouba flyover, what we normally have is that we have local traffic intermingling with the persons coming from Brian Lara. So we are going to cut off local traffic on that ramp. So persons who are living in and around the area will be using alternative routes.”
The TTPS said there are limited parking spots for the public on the northern side of the stadium, with WPC Danielle Ambrose-Mitchell advising motorists not to be lured into paying for parking.
“In the past we’ve had one or two persons in the car park trying to solicit persons parking. So I’m just urging the public just to be mindful that you don’t have to pay for parking at Brian Lara.”
The TTPS said in discussion with the ICC and CPL, certain items will not be allowed, including lighters, glass or plastic bottles, sharp objects, backpacks, professional cameras, food, drinks, coolers, drones, weapons, and branded umbrellas.
ACP Mystar said while alcohol will be sold at the venue, police will be conducting road exercises to ensure motorists behind the wheel are not intoxicated.
“Those operations will include stop and search, DUIs, speed tests and so on. So it will be normal operations by the TTPS doing those activities.”
He also noted that security inside the stadium will be visible but non-intimidating, in line with international standards.
“We will not allow officers, for example, with camouflage inside the venue or with heavy arms. So you’ll see officers with, you know, basic grey and blue. Outside you’ll have the heavy-armed officers and that kind of thing because that’s part of the whole ICC branding and imaging that they don’t want to have this kind of like show of force actually inside of the stadium.”
ACP Mystar warned that parking on the shoulder of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway will not be allowed, noting that motorists failing to adhere to this will be issued a fixed penalty notice.
However, he said parking on the Boulevard – the entrance and exit to the venue – will be allowed, but motorists will not be allowed to park indiscriminately.