[UPDATED] Mayor: Wrecking resumes in Port of Spain

PORT of Spain City Corporation officials are warning motorists that wrecking in Port of Spain has resumed.

Speaking after the Corporation’s monthly statutory meeting on November 27, mayor Chinua Alleyne said indiscriminate parking in the capital is a problem and needs to be addressed.

He said it poses a problem for the city, its burgesses and everybody who uses the city.

“Part of the traffic management plan for the city is ensuring that we have good egress from the city in the event of any emergency, so the resumption of parking enforcement using tow trucks is part of that effort.

“We want to ensure we can keep the city safe and provide the public with safe egress form the city should something happen.”

City Police Supt Glen Charles explained the wreckers were not operating as they were being repaired.

He said the repairs were completed with help from Vehicle Management Company of TT (VMCOTT) and wrecking resumed from November 25.

“We want to ensure that when the wreckers are on the road they are road worthy and the lifts are working properly because sometimes it could cause damage to vehicles and could cause the state some additional expenses.”

Charles said the wreckers are focusing on downtown Port of Spain, Ariapita Avenue and environs.

He said the towed cars will be taken to Dock Road near MovieTowne and the release fee has not changed.

“Right now they are being taken to Dock Road but we are trying to fix a site near South Quay so it would be easier for the public in terms of retrieving their vehicle. The fee ($500) is enshrined in the law so we cannot scale that because it is scheduled.”

Alleyne said the tow trucks will be complemented by officers on foot who will also issue parking tickets to errant motorists.

“We have acquired additional (ticketing) machines from the police. Several of our officers have received training to do that and so the city police will engage in that activity on an ongoing basis.”

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

PORT of Spain City Corporation officials are warning drivers that wrecking in Port of Spain has resumed.

Speaking after the Corporation’s monthly statutory meeting on November 27, mayor Chinua Alleyne said indiscriminate parking in the capital is a problem and needs to be addressed.

City Police Supt Glen Charles explained the wreckers had not been not operating, as they were being repaired. But he said the repairs had been completed and wrecking resumed from November 25.

Charles said the wreckers are focusing on downtown Port of Spain, Ariapita Avenue and environs.

He said  towed cars will be taken to Dock Road near MovieTowne, but added there are plans to acquire a spot near South Quay soon to make it easier for drivers to retrieve their cars.

At the meeting, the corporation also approved a vending plan for Charlotte Street.

Based on reports from engineers, police and the public health department, the council approved roadside vending from Thursday-Sunday for the first two weeks of December.

For the week December 17-24, vendors will be allowed on the street every day.