The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has announced traffic diversions along some roadways to facilitate dignitaries attending the Rio Summit.
The GPF said acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, with the approval of Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, has ordered the prohibition of all articulated vehicles, lorries, tractors, trailers and animal drawn carts from travelling on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) Public Road from Timehri to Mandela Avenue from today between the hours of 7 am to 9 pm, tomorrow, between 7 am and 10 pm and on Sunday from 6 am to 1 pm.
Traffic will also be restricted on the EBD road from Timehri through the Houston bypass to Mandela Avenue along Sheriff Street, along the Rupert Craig Highway, Carifesta Avenue, Young Street and High Street. This is to facilitate the arrival and departure of presidents, prime ministers and other delegations attending the Summit from today until Sunday.
Greene has also ordered road closures for various events from Homestretch Avenue between Mandela Avenue and Vlissengen Road, Hadfield Street between John Street and Mandela Avenue, Mandela Avenue from Hadfield Street into Sheriff Street and unto the Lamaha Conservancy Bridge from 4 pm to 10 pm to facilitate the Summit’s opening at the National Cultural Centre.
The GPF also advises persons attending the opening ceremony and other functions to take along their invitations and to prominently display stickers on their vehicles.
The GPF also said today the following roads will be closed between 6 pm and 10 pm: Main and Carmichael streets; the eastern and western carriageways between Lamaha and Middle streets; Middle Street, between Carmichael and Main streets and New Market Street between Carmichael and Main streets.
Tomorrow, the following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic: the Railway Embankment Road from Conversation Tree to the Industry access road and the University of Guyana (UG) access road from the East Demerara Highway to First Street, Cummings Lodge from 7 am to 5 pm.
Also roads will be closed to eastbound traffic from Clive Lloyd Drive to the UG access road and to westbound Industry to the Kitty Public Road between 7 am to 10 am and from 1 pm to 5 pm. Persons going to UG are advised to use the Industry access road or Dennis Street.
The GPL appeals to all motorists to respond to the sound of sirens by pulling over to the side of the road and stopping. The police acknowledge that the traffic restrictions will cause inconvenience but seeks co-operation in the interest of national security and the safe passage of the dignitaries.